Do a sub-report in the report / form to get the Alias description.  (Do NOT link the tables).  Then use global / shared variables to pass the alias description out to the main report (remembering to reset your variables appropriately). 

After that, you just use a simple formula to conditionally print what you want.

I would add the alias item description field to the SO_InvoiceWrk table in a UDF and then create a formula that if the UDF is not Null then the alias item description else the extended item description 

BigLouie,

The business object doesn't exist to add an Alias description to the invoice work table for me.  What version are you seeing that as a possibility?

Kevin, you are correct, I had forgotten about that.  Basically a useless field because you can't easily add it to any table or report.You had to add in the table or do a sub report as you suggested