>Hi Mark,
>thanks I guessed as much, my SQL knowledge is not great but I don't consider this complex!, is there another way I could do this?
>
>thanks again

There is really nothing wrong with your code if it does what you want. However, I never actually use a control value reference in the SQL code. I would change it like:

cClm_Ref = ThisForm.clm_ref

Select * ;
  from elemtype ;
  where elemtype.claim_elem_code not in ;
    (Select elem_code from elements where elements.clm_ref = ?cClm_Ref)

Like I said before, the VFP VD can not handle editing this view. Use Erik Moore's EVIEW utility. I, also, do not consider this very complex. But the VD can handle sub-queries, unions, more than 2 or 3 tables, etc.