Hi again:

I have one more instance that I am racking my brain over and cannot seem to modify the procedure that I currently have in my system. I do not even know if this is possible.

Currently I import a lot of data from different sources, but I will choose one client for this instance.

Lets say the initial import of the data is (this goes into the main table):

customer id, quote no, quote date, quote due, quote status, quote price
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 42193.15
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, , P, 436.43
ABS5995, 1000, 01/27/2004, , P, 5478.74
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 36277.98

two weeks from now i re-import new data into the main table and this is what the text file looks like:

customer id, quote no, quote date, quote due, quote status, quote price
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 42193.15,
ABS5995, 1000, 01/15/2003, , P, 436.43
ABS5995, 1000, 01/15/2003, , P, 5478.74
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 36277.98
ABS5995, 1000, 01/29/2004, , P, 500.00
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 35777.98

i have the system searching through the database for existing quote payments and quote numbers. most customers i do not have a problem, but because there are so many identical quote numbers and quote dates, and even quote prices, my process cannots seem to tell the difference. i would think to zap the table, but the existing quotes have notes attached to them in the table and I do not want them erased. i kind of want the system to search for that existing invoice and see if the original quote has changed. If it did change, then overlay it with the new remaining balance of the quote, but keep all the quote payments. and thus the end format look like this:

customer id, quote no, quote date, quote due, quote status, quote price
ABS5995, 1000, 10/15/2003, 11/15/2003, O, 35777.98
ABS5995, 1000, 01/15/2003, , P, 436.43
ABS5995, 1000, 01/15/2003, , P, 5478.74
ABS5995, 1000, 01/29/2004, , P, 500.00

my problem is the fact all the quotes numbers are the same and the dates. i fear the two payments on 01/15/2003, one would be wiped out if it saw virtually the same information since it has the same quote number and quote date.

help!!