Hi Bob,

>select * from contacts where &pcFilterString into table c:\temp\foundit
>
>pcFilterString='UPPER(NLAST)="SMITH" AND UPPER(NFIRST)="JOHN"'

Could you replace the macro variable with this snippet:
lcLast = 'SMITH'
lcFirst = 'JOHN'
Select * from contacts where UPPER(NLAST)==lcLast AND UPPER(NFIRST)==lcFirst into table c:\temp\foundit

or if you dont know the field names, you can use the Eval() function:
lcField1 = 'UPPER(NLAST)'
lcField2 = 'UPPER(NFIRST)'
Select * from contacts where EVAL('lcField1')==lcLast AND EVAL('lcField2')==lcFirst into table c:\temp\foundit

>
>The table is indexed on UPPER(NLAST AND UPPER(NFIRST) and the query runs quickly with the values instead of the macro substitution

If at all possible, you need to remove the macro variable.

Jon