Stuart, what are you using to "copy the data to a file"? You could write a custom output routine to write the data exactly how you need it to a text file. eg using LLFF or STRTOFILE().

>I have table as follows:
>
>port c(1)
>agent c(3)
>cost n(8,2)
>
>I want to be able to zero file the cost field so that when i copy the details
>to a file it looks as follows:
>
>"P1","Z10",00012.78
>
>How can i zero fill this numeric field? If I change it to character and zero fill it the output looks as follows:
>
>"P1","Z10","00012.78"
>
>I can't remove the quotes cause then the first two fields do not have quotes
>and I need these to have quotes.
>
>Is there some way than you can format the numeric field to be zero filled?
>
>I would really appreciat some help.
>
>Regards,
>
>Stuart