I'm sorry, I shoud have specified that I don't want any duplicates.

I'd like to do the equivalent of a
"select * from
my_db2_database_table
where
some_unique_value
not in
(select some_unique_value from my_foc_hold)"

Jason,
you can (and probably should) use the MODIFY and UPDATE syntax for updating, adding and deleting records from a focus db. Its brilliant.
Go to your tech support page and locate and download the MODIFY manual.
APPEND i would only use for flat files.
(it may work for focus files, but i just wouldnever use it)
FILEDEF MYFILE DISK somefilename
...then create the file
...later, if youw ant to add to it..
FILEDEF MYFILE DISK somefilename (APPEND
...and now whenyou write to it, the new records will go on at the end.
Without the (APPEND, your file would be overwritten.

a note on syntax: a 'FOC' file and a 'hold' file
usually mean 2 different things. a '.FOC' is a focus database where as a 'hold' file generally refers to something else...a temporary file in some interim step, and usually a .ftm, which is essentially a flat file, not an actual focus database.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: susannah,

Jason
I do something like that, but it's all done with ETL. It gives me more control and it is all scheduled during the night.
You can append or update. (In fact there is a match process running with several cases)
Good luck