I know what you mean. It could work if VFP had function similar to T-SQL CAST/CONVERT so we can do something like

SELECT CONVERT(evl(DateField,null),"D"), field2  ...

>I guess I am getting to used to SQL Server.
>
>>Hi Bob,
>>
>>It's not going to work because VFP couldn't determine the type of the first field (EVL) if date is empty in the first record.

CREATE CURSOR test ( kk int, dt date )
>>INSERT INTO test VALUES(1, {})
>>INSERT INTO test VALUES(2, DATE())
>>SELECT EVL(dt, Null), kk FROM test     && Generates Error
>>* If date isn't empty in the first record, it works
>>CREATE CURSOR test ( kk int, dt date )
>>INSERT INTO test VALUES(2, DATE())
>>INSERT INTO test VALUES(1, {})
>>SELECT EVL(dt, Null), kk FROM test
>>

Bottom line is, you wouldn't want to use it because it may or may not work.
>>
>>>
>>>I assume the new OLE-DB provider will support the new EVL() function that is in VFP 8.0. If so, you can just wrap all your dates with it in your selects...
>>>
>>>SELECT evl(DateField,null), field2, ...
>>>
>>>BOb