I am trying to validate to textbox with the following code:

set step on && to see what is happening
badid = .T. && to get a reference point
badid = INDEXSEEK(THIS.VALUE,.F.,"customers","customerid") && goes to .F. here!
IF badid
MESSAGEBOX("etc")
RETURN .F.
ELSE
RETURN .T.
ENDIF

ALIAS() shows the proper table
SYS(22) shows the proper controlling index
THIS.VALUE = what I entered

Yet it still fails to detect an existing value in the index. If I drop out to the command widow, do the same
with a known key value vs. THIS.VALUE, it works fine. What else can I look at? TIA

Jim