Try to change the INDEX to PADR(UPPER(ALLTRIM(Ln)), len_of_the_field, " ")
& then
c_voss = "VOSS"+SPACE(len_of_the_field-4)
SELECT IDNUM FROM CONTDB WHERE PADR(UPPER(ALLTRIM(Ln)), len_of_the_field, " ") == c_voss
Against Stupidity the Gods themselves Contend in Vain - Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller
The only thing normal about database guys is their tables.
