First, get all changes into a cursor or temporary table and than use it to modify table1. See sample (not tested) code below

SELECT Table1.ssn, ;
        Table1.lastname As OldName, ;
        Table2.lastname As NewName;
    FROM Table1, Table2 ;
    WHERE table1.ssn = table2.ssn ;
        AND table1.lastaname <> table2.lastaname ;
    INTO CURSOR changes

INDEX ON ssn TAG ssn
SET ORDER TO ssn
SELECT table1
SET RELATION TO ssn INTO changes
REPLACE table1.lastaname WITH changes.NewName ;
    FOR FOUND("changes") 

>The REPLACE is working well for me but now a new twist. I now need to produce a report of the changes. A column for old lastname and new lastname. Any ideas on how I can accomplish that?
>
>Brenda
>
>****************************
>>SET ORDER TO ssn IN table2
>>SELECT table1
>>SET RELATION TO ssn INTO table2
>>REPLACE table1.lastaname WITH table2.lastaname ;
>> FOR FOUND("table2") AND table1.lastaname <> table2.lastaname
>****************************
>>>UPDATE table1 set table1.lastname = table2.lastname where table1.ssn = table2.ssn
>>>
>>>if both table1 and table at the first record then nothing is replaced in my little example. the record pointer of table2 is not moving. i am wanting for each record in table1 that all records in table2 are searched until an SSN match is found and then lastname is replaced. Just thought I could do it in an SQL statement.
>>>
>>>Brenda
>*******************
>>
>>>
>>>Let's see your UPDATE statement.
>>>
>>>heers
>>>imN
>>
>>***************
>>>
>>>The UPDATE is not working as I would like. For a different example. Table1 has SSN and LastName. Table2 has SSN and LastName and is used to update LastName in several tables. Not all the records in Table1 will be in Table2 and not all the records in Table2 will be in Table1. If Table1.SSN = Table2.SSN and Table1.LastName = Table2.LastName I want to replace Table1.LastName with Table2.LastName.
>>>
>>>Table1
>>>------
>>>1234567Smith
>>>2222222Jones
>>>
>>>Table2
>>>-------
>>>1111111Anderson
>>>1234567Wilson
>>>
>>>I want to replace Smith in Table1 with Wilson. But my UPDATE WHERE compares only the values in the current record. It does not move through the table to compare for each record.
>>>
>>>Will an UPDATE work for me or should I just do it programmatically.
>>>
>>>Brenda
>>********************