>Mike,
>
>That is the method I am using, an id table. It is indicated in this portion of my message:
>
>This procedure stores the last key value used for a field in a table in a id table that maintains values. The id table's structure looks like this:
>

>talbe_name field_name last_key
>table1        field1     1000
>

>
>
>I have also explained why I am using GO BOTTOM to retrieve the maximum value.
>
>Dawa
>
>>Hi Dawa
>>
>>In a nutshell, create a new table that holds the last ID generated per data table in your system.
>>
>>Every time you want a new key, access the ID table, increment the last key on the record for the data table, and return that key as the new key.
>>
>>GO BOTTOM will not be reliable and as the size of the file grows, the performance will drop.
>>
>>>Hi Mike, Craig,
>>>
>>>Mike, thanks for the message.
>>>
>>>I think Craig wants to know the reason behind your goal because if you're doing this to generate a primary key there are alternatives.
>>>
>>>Sorry, Craig, I didn't make it clear enough. Yes, this is part of primary key generation procedure that's stored in my database. I am using VFP7, so Integer Auto Increment is not an option until I upgrade my project into VFP8.
>>>1. The procedure takes a table name and a field name as parameters
>>> they are used to search for (table name+field name) entry
>>>2. If found, then
>>> 2.1. get the maximum key value from the target table
>>> 2.2. compare the max value against the last key
>>> 2.2.1 if max is larger than last_key replace last key with the max value
>>> 2.2.2 increment last key and return it
>>>3. If not found, the entry is created
>>>
>>>In my inital procedure, I didn't have 2.2.1. I had to add this because an error occoured on one of our user's machines. In one of the target tables, two entries with the same key value appeared. Ever since I added this line, this instance hasn't happened yet. Since, this routine is frequently accessed (every time a record inserted into one of target tables), I would like find the most efficient approach.
>>>
>>>Any, better alternitives I will embrace.
>>>
>>>I am runing a test with three different approaches that I considering. I will post the result soon.
>>>
>>>Dawa