Steve I tested now & think the problem is not in the name of the field;
CREATE CURSOR Test (LAST C(15))
INSERT INTO Test (Last) VALUES ("-1.676569E+09")
? ATC("-",last)
This works. Are You sure that the type of Your field is "C"?
Against Stupidity the Gods themselves Contend in Vain - Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller
The only thing normal about database guys is their tables.