thanks heaps for your help guys i really appreciate it.
i'm trying so hard to get this done and there is still so much more to do but it's just not working! i've got it down to no errors but its not actually sorting it, or if it is, it's not showing me that it is.

Code:
	while (noSwaps == FALSE && checks > 0)
	{
		noSwaps = TRUE;
		for(j = 1; j < numCust; j++)
		{
			if (cust[j].recName < cust[j-1].recName)
			{
				strcpy(temp, cust[j].recName);
				strcpy(cust[j-1].recName, cust[j].recName);
				strcpy(temp, cust[j-1].recName);
				noSwaps = FALSE;
				moves++;
			}
		}
		checks--;
	}
i think the problem must be in that somewhere or that maybe i have to somehow save the changes to the text file that the customers records are saved in?