Re: Access97 problems with Info

> > Why can't I change the sort order of an unindexed field? > > Well, its a long story. But to make a long story short its because > Microsoft > Databases can order by columns not in the Select and an Informix > Database > can't. >> Although that column has to be read anyway -- its more a case of MS >> hiding things that Informix makes explicit and required. Does one >> or the other of these behaviors break SQL specs? I don't remember >> what was said about that, if anything. Don't know the SQL standard by heart, and SQL-92 standards are not available online, but according to C.J. Date's _A Guide to the Sql Standard (2nd. ed)_, pg. 69: <beg quote> Note that (as already indicated) each ordering specification must identify a column of the _result table_. Thus, for example, the following is _*** ILLEGAL ***_: DECLARE Z CURSOR FOR SELECT S.SNO FROM S ORDER BY S.CITY <end quote> Thus, it appears that Microsoft has (once again) violated existing standards. Mark Collins mcollins@us.dhl.com