>Multiple REPLACEs will be much slower than a single REPLACE.

You are correct... on the magnitude of about 25-30% - Great catch!!!

For any that want to test it...

create table testrslt (nstart n(15,2), nend n(15,2), nseconds n(15,2))

for j = 1 to 10
	create table testspd (cfield1 c(25), cfield2 c(10), cfield3 c(10), cfield4 c(5))
	for i = 1 to 10000
		insert into testspd (cfield1) values ('THISISATESTOFTHEEMERGENCY')

	next i
	select testspd 
	go top

	lnstart = seconds()
	scan
		replace cfield2 with substr(cfield1,1,10)
		replace cfield3 with substr(cfield1,11,10)
		replace cfield4 with substr(cfield1,21,5)
	endscan
	lnend = seconds()

	insert into testrslt (nstart, nend, nseconds) values (lnstart, lnend, lnend-lnstart)
	
next j

for j = 1 to 10
	create table testspd (cfield1 c(25), cfield2 c(10), cfield3 c(10), cfield4 c(5))
	for i = 1 to 10000
		insert into testspd (cfield1) values ('THISISATESTOFTHEEMERGENCY')

	next i
	select testspd 
	go top

	lnstart = seconds()
	scan
		replace cfield2 with substr(cfield1,1,10), cfield3 with substr(cfield1,11,10), cfield4 with substr(cfield1,21,5)
	endscan
	lnend = seconds()

	insert into testrslt (nstart, nend, nseconds) values (lnstart, lnend, lnend-lnstart)
	
next j