That was too simple! Thanks!!!
>The compile time constants aren't recognized between quotation marks. You can use square brackets as string delimiters.
#define TXT_MACHINETYPE 'Lathe'
>search_string = [machine.type=TXT_MACHINETYPE]
>...
>
>
>>This doesn't work in vfp7 unless I eliminate the constant. Any
>>way around it?