Reason for inserting at pointer is to match the screen to the written list being entered. If a user skips an item and enters it later the record is added to end of table.(table not indexed so as to match written sheet).

Things were very simple as long as no item is missed. Now it looks like I'll have to create an index key based perhaps on record()+"?" and create a routine to assign a sort key to the added (missed) item so it is positioned correctly.

It appears that no one else has a problem using the index key approach . . .
new field, additional replace commands yada yada yada . . .