Do you've index on DELTED() or not? I'm not saying that you've to add it but pointing out that it cause optimization to be partial which may or may not have affect on the query speed.
>The same select in VFP8 on the same table reports
>
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Using index tag Custinvno to rushmore optimize table invcust
>Rushmore optimization level for table invcust: Full
>
>Accepting that this may be the issue, I should add the deleted() index to all my tables??
>
--sb--