>thanks the 91,93 thing was because the input tables have identical field names so I'd need to alias them and wanted to keep my example short, also the structures are set and unchanging, and the 100 thing is unfortunatly as it has to be, I guess I'm as close as aI need be then, thanks all.

You're welcome:) I'm not really convinced about "and the 100 thing is unfortunatly as it has to be". If ltrim() is not a must it doesn't have to and shouldn't be.
Cetin