I have a model which has 3 levels (Year some indexes calculated (i); State (j); and Year for which data were available (k)). I want a random effect for the Year the Indexes are calculated within State (i,j). I normally use MLWin, and its simple; I specify the three levels; then introduce a constant, and in the drop down box for the constant, I have 3 check boxes; I click on j (State); and voila, a random effect u(ij). Note this is the only random effect I want. I haven't found how to do this in R. I have tried: mlcgc1 <- lme(Factors ~ 1, data=cgc, random=~1+1+0|YOA/State/YOR) but this introduces a random effect for all levels; I have tried mlcgc2 <- lme(Factors ~ 1,data=cgc,random = list(YOA=~1,State=~1)) but this gives me a 2 level model. So I tried: mlcgc3 <- lme(Factors ~ 1,data=cgc,random = list(YOA=~1,State=~1,YOR=~0)) but this still gives me random effects for all 3 levels. Any ideas? Thanks. Robert Tanton.