>>why does the insert work without errors but the update doesn't?
>>
>>the error says that 'alias text2 not found'
>>
>> update customers set company = thisform.text2.value ;
>> where custno = thisform.text1.value
>
>That's really weird. It seems to be fine with something like "thisform.SomeProperty". I feel like this is a bug. Anybody else?

I recalled, that it was discussed here before and Bret's workaround works. Also you may try to surround thisform.text2.value with (), but I doubt, it would help.