>Today's Quiz. I want to maximize the number of choices I can assign to a group of records so I choose to use the alphabet through a three character field. How do I programatically increment the next assigned alphabetic character (i.e. AAA, AAB, AAC. .. AAZ then ABA, ABB, etc.)
>
>do I do this with ascii character (chr()) assignments or is there an easier way?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Bill

Suppose you have sort it in order, that means lastkey is largest!

lcSelect = Select()
Select MyTable
Go Bottom
lcLastKey = Alltrim(MyTable.MyKey)  && e.g. [BFZZ] -> [BFZ'A]
 --> [BGAA]
NextKey = CalNextKey(lcLastKey)


* CalNextKey.prg or Function CalNextKey
Lparameter lcLastKey
For iX = Len(lcLastKey) to 2 Step -1 && will problem if [ZZZ]
If SubStr(lcLastKey, iX, 1) = [Z] && From Right to Left
  * up the lcLastKey Till non-Z is found! 
  lcLastKey = left(lcLastKey, iX-2) + chr(asc(Substr(lcLastKey, iX-1,1))+1) + [A]
Else
  * normal case
  lcNewKey = left(lcLastKey, iX-1) + chr(asc(Substr(lcLastKey, iX,1))+1) + ;
             Substr(lcLastKey, iX+1)
  Exit  && leave loop
Endif
EndFor

If Left(lcNewKey, 1) > [Z]  && Independent of Hardware Platform
  messagebox('OverFlow Error!!',16,'Calculate Next ID')
  Return .F.
else 
  Return lcNewKey
ENDIF

NOTE this is sth like calculation Sum with Logic Gate!

Just Type the code, pls test if any error.