Kevin,
Personally, I prefer sequential joins rather than nested. I find it easier to read. However, the query/view designer uses nested joins as in your sample code. You may want to try the following to see if it makes a difference:

Select * From nonconf ;
  LEFT OUTER JOIN car_misc ON  Nonconf.car_id = Car_misc.car_id ;
  LEFT OUTER JOIN car_extension ON Nonconf.car_id = Car_extension.car_id ;
into cursor car_temp

HTH

>I get the error SQL: Column 'CAR_ID' is not found, when I run the following code:
>
>

>Select * From nonconf ;
>    LEFT OUTER JOIN car_misc;
>    LEFT OUTER JOIN car_extension ;
>    ON  Nonconf.car_id = Car_extension.car_id ;
>    ON  Nonconf.car_id = Car_misc.car_id ;
>  into cursor car_temp
>

>
>The query opens the three tables (nonconf, car_misc, car_extension) and then has the error. Of course if I open the 3 tables first and the run the query everything works as in,
>
>

>use nonconf in 0
>use car_misc in 0
>use car_extension in 0
>Select * From nonconf ;
>    LEFT OUTER JOIN car_misc;
>    LEFT OUTER JOIN car_extension ;
>    ON  Nonconf.car_id = Car_extension.car_id ;
>    ON  Nonconf.car_id = Car_misc.car_id ;
>  into cursor car_temp
>

>
>
>I have changed my code to be like the 2nd example -- I was just wondering why this is necessary.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Kevin