>> Use 'evaluate()' function instead of '&', it is twise more quick. For
>
>I wondered about that. Have read that the macro substitution is slow.

'&' - that is macro substitution, not evaluate(). MS recommands to use '()' in most cases where possible, or 'EVALUATE()' function where you need only expression calculation. EVALUATE() function is special for expressions, it does not process many VFP commands, so it is more quick. In addition, vartype() recommended to use instead of type() function (I used this in sample too). It also have speed difference, because type() compile expression you give, when vartype just check type of already compiled expression.