>Dear All,
>
>What is the diference between indirection refrencing
>Select(test)
>
>and macro subtitution
>set near &nOld
>
>The question is this.
>
>I want to clear my logic where they will use and how we determin.
>let me know and oblidge.
>
>Yours truly,
>
>Nafees

Hi,

The main problem is that macro substitution is extremely slow. The EVALUATE function and name substitution (using brackets as in your example) were introduced to speed up substitution where in scenarios where it was often used most.

Try a test program looping through 10,000 "select &lcvar" commands, then compare with the time for 10,000 "select (lcVar)".