Search criteria entered thru GUI Resource Layout Painter URL page, R & M, is passed thru the HTML as R. If I run the fex alone, R & M works. Anyone found a fix to get something with "&" thru the HTML?

Are you using a text input box in the HTML screen?
If you are then make sure that the value for the value tag in the HTML is in "" (double quotes).
Also in the fex it must be coded in single quotes (but I assume that you have this as the fex works.
I've tested it in 5.3.3 and it works fine.

If you put -SET &ECHO=ALL; at the top of the fex you can see the code that WebFocus is processing by right clicking on the returned HTML and selecting view source.
Does it show what you expect?

Your answer sounds very clear but I'm missing it! What do you mean "value for the value tag in the HTML is in "" (double quotes)."

Something in the HTML code itself or through Resource Layout tool?

In the .HTM file your text input line will have an entry value= . I have seen occasions where (depending on version of WebFocus) it renders the code in such as your case as value=R & M . It should be value="R & M" .
IF no default is supplied it should look like value="".
Also if your data is via a dropdown list all option value pairs should be in double quotes.
If they are not then the HTML only returns the part before the first space which is what seems to be happening in your case.

try passing this R &| M
however, what i do is change all the & in my dimension tables to + using the CTRAN function, when i generate my dimension tables.
So, Lord & Taylor is changed to Lord + Taylor
and then i never run into the problem.
Focus is encountering the lone & and trying to turn it into a dialog manager variable.
Same, oddly enough, with the # when passed thru from a prompt. eg, my default value for a text box was 'search style# or name', and when i test on the this value, it contains only 'search style', everything from the # onwards has vanished. odd, but might be useful someday.