>Ok sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.
>This works %Sal% but Sal% does not. the _ does not work right either.
>here is a copy of my code
>
>
>myconnection = SQLCONNECT('MyNorthTest','ldjackson','shakka')
>IF myconnection > -1
>
> lcstate = "SELECT COMPANYNAME,CONTACTNAME,CONTACTTITLE FROM CUSTOMERS WHERE CONTACTTITLE Like ?lctitle ORDER BY COMPANYNAME "
> SQLEXEC(myconnection,lcstate,'MYTEMP1')
> SQLDISCONNECT(myconnection)
> SELECT MYTEMP1
>ENDIF
>
>I am doing this in the BeforeOpenTables event in order to preview a report

I really don't know if this could be case but from the name it sounds to be an Access database. Access databases have problem with wildcard matches and version of MDAC, Jet engine effects it AFAIK. You might find it in MSDN knowledgebase.
Cetin