Subject Re: indexing with character numbers From Ken Mayer <dbase@nospam.goldenstag.net> Date Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:43:22 -0800 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started On 1/26/2025 11:19 AM, Charlie wrote: > Thanks Mervyn...  I hadn't looked at your first response closely, but after doing so a light went on in the back of my head!  it works great now. > > replace all id with str(val(id),12,0) > > use collection exclusive > index on category+id tag test > use collection order test You're doing way more work than you need to. If the ID field is character: index on category+val(id) tag test Should work. If the field is numeric: index on category+val( str( id, 12, 0 ) ) tag test should do the trick (using the STR() function to make everything a string, and then take the value of that ... But if you're happy with your solution, then okay. Ken -- *Ken Mayer* Ken's dBASE Page: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase The dUFLP: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/index.htm#duflp dBASE Books: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Books/dBASEBooks.htm dBASE Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Tutorial/00_Preface.htm dBASE Web Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/WebTutorial/00_Menu.htm dBASE DOS to Windows Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/DtoWTutorial/00_Menu.htm