Don't specify alias if you want VFP to check every record.

APPEND FROM utemp For (SubStr(Submitter,1,1)="E")

>SELECT estate
>zap
>APPEND FROM utemp For (SubStr(utemp.Submitter,1,1)="E")
>go bottom
>wait window estate.submitter
>
>Why would I get all records from UTEMP? I specified 'E' as first letter of first field!
>
>TIA