Thanks for the reply, Lillian, but my curiousity isnt quite sated here; clunky is one thing, but most experienced db designers usually name a recodset for what it is. I fail to see why is_competitor is simpler than is_rmpmerchant, and why rmpmerchant or something akin to it wasnt chosen instead of that clunky word. It would probably also be simpler to tie phrase into other tables, and probably not make users raise an eyebrow when the database went away because there are Admins and competitors in the recordsets. I'll leave it there. ~S