Bobh, You are trying to set COL1 equal to either O_B or '0'. The first problem I see is that you have quotes around the zero. That makes FOCUS expect an Alpha format field on the left hand side of the expression, so remove the quotes. Second, what is the format of O_B? If that's and Alpha field you can't assign it to COL1 with a format of P6. I'm not sure why FOCUS says there is a FORMAT ERROR IN DECODE. It could be that FOCUS just doesn't like the way you are embedding it into the IF statement. Just some observations. Mickey Grackin (301) 975-8417 -----Original Message----- From: focus-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:focus-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hamilton, Robert Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 5:38 PM To: focus-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [focus-l] Re: TRUNCATION Thnx, Ron Then I get for this COL1/P6 =3D IF ((DECODE FUND(GS ELSE 'X') NE 'X' ) AND ( HOUSING EQ '1' OR '2' ) ) THEN O_B ELSE '0'; I get this COL1/P6 =3D IF ((DECODE FUND(GS ELSE 'X') NE 'X' ) ERROR AT OR NEAR LINE 54 IN PROCEDURE ADHO0503FOCEXEC FOC272) FORMAT ERROR IN DECODE OR FILE ELEMENT: X AND ( HOUSING EQ '1' OR '2' ) ) THEN O_B ELSE '0'; GS points to a file with a list of funds but if I make col1 /a001 Then no error. ????? bobh -- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis -- -- Type: application/ms-tnef -- File: winmail.dat