Always nice to meet another Tim. A programming one is all the better, i never seem to meet any of those

ahh yes, there is the cached query issue. SQL server can cache queries which have identical syntax and then just add the new parameter value in as you call it. If the syntax changes, as it does in my example, this is not possible. I think you'd have to change the properties of the command however to access a query in this manner

knew i was missing something there. cheers :)