Yes, indeed, use brackets instead of quotes is what I needed to know. Thanks! (This is also the first time I've seen a specific need for brackets instead of quotes ... are there any others?)

Jim

>Jim,
>
>The compiler constant are not recognised inside string literal delimited with single or double quotes but you can use []

.DYNAMICFORECOLOR = [IIF(sortkey="A",clr_Black,] + STR(.BACKCOLOR)+')

>
>
>>I have a statement that looks like this:
>>

WITH myColumn
>>    .DYNAMICFORECOLOR='IIF(sortkey="A",clr_Black,'+STR(.BACKCOLOR)+')
>>ENDWITH

>>
>>clr_Back is defined in a #DEFINE statement in a header file set in _INCLUDE and exists at the point of the reference to .DYNAMICBACKCOLOR ... what am I missing?
>>