Hi David,
>
>When did that change? I've padded combined expressions like that for years to avoid a problem that seems not to exist anymore. Just tested it without the PADR and surprise -- no problem.
>
>>>select table1.employee_id, ;
>>>ALLTRIM(employee.first_name) + " " + ALLTRIM(employee.last_name) AS FULL_NAME ;
>>>FROM table1, employee
>>>WHERE table1.employee_id = employee.employee_id ;
>>>INTO table3
>>
>>Better PADR that expression, or you'll lose info if the first item has short first and/or last name.

Are you SURE <G> that the Full_Name that VFP evaluated first was short? I'll bet you were just 'lucky' PadR() takes 'luck' into your hands! <G>