I see you have found the answer but there is a handy little function in SysUtils called QuotedStr. example: strFilter := Format('Priority = %s', [QuotedStr('high')]); maybe overkill but looks a bit cleaner, especially when creating filters and they become more complex. JED PS: Just have the strings in the syntax highlight in a different color. Then you'd know when you were correct. >> strFilter := 'Priority = 'high' '; --------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Zealand Delphi Users group - Delphi List - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: http://www.delphi.org.nz