>Is there an easy and least coding way to save and restore the state of the current alias. I want to save RECNO, FILTER etc., then change the rec pointer sum(), etc. and then I want the alias back to the state I had when I started.

Creating private data sessions will do it. Or, if you wish to remain within the same data session, then, as you say, creating a function to do this will do. Basically, it's not that much. Within about 20 lines, you should be able to do it.