>The second sql statement worked as well. How would you recommend updating those records the fastest. It returned 24,880 records needing ot be updated.

I changed my thinking a little.

Create a view something like this...
v_massupdatenomen

select nomen.*, fedlog.item_name as fedlogname, fedlog.item_desc as fedlogdesc from nomen inner join fedlog on fedlog.nomenid = nomen.nomenid where (empty(nomen.item_name) or empty(nomen.item_desc)) into cursor massupdates

Make sure you set the view to only update the nomen table.

use that view then ...

replace item_name with fedlogname, item_desc with fedlogdesc

tableupdate(.T.,"v_massupdatenomen")

HTH