Thanks for the help, I'd considered that way, but was concerned about the time factor in multiple calls to padr.
Nigel Coates suggested a template union or dummy cursor method, that I'll give a go - in replying to him I realised I was thinking of the browse command where it's possible to set field widths in the command.
Thanks again
Mike
"I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong." - Richard Feynman
