def _preFind(self, WHAT={}, SORT=[], SKIP=None, MAX=None, LOP='AND'):
		"""This function will process attributtes for all -find* commands."""

		if hasattr(WHAT, '_modified'):
			self._addDBParam('RECORDID', WHAT.RECORDID)
		elif type(WHAT)==dict:
			for key in WHAT:
				self._addDBParam(key, WHAT[key])
		else:
			raise FMError, 'Python Runtime: Object type (%s) given to on of function doFind* as argument WHAT cannot be used.' % type(WHAT)

		for key in SORT:
			self._addSortParam(key, SORT[key])

		if SKIP: self._setSkipRecords(SKIP)
		if MAX: self._setMaxRecords(MAX)
		if LOP: self._setLogicalOperator(LOP)

		if self._layout == '':
			raise FMError, 'No layout was selected'