if i scan, how do i incorporate the other table under another alias into the equation. here is kind of what i was thinking.

do while not eof() (or some other condition)

select a_alias
locate for custid = id, field2 < 0 , field3 = variable
insert into table (fieldnames) values (variablenames)
update a_alias
set field2 = something, field3 = somethingelse
where custid = id

select a_anotheralias
insert into table (fieldnames) values (variablenames)
.....the variables on this one are set from some fields in the original locate

next

the problem is though that the tables are pretty big and the locate is slow as a dog. any suggestions? thanks.