< snip >

>>What? Notable changes like SQL won't allow you to use the output column names in the ORDER BY clause in the first place? *g*>

>Sure?
>
>Run this into MS SQL,it is ok:
>

>create TABLE #x1 ( firstname cHAR(10) )
>insert into #x1 values ( 'Dave' )
>insert into #x1 values ( 'Abe' )
>insert into #x1 values ( 'Albert' )
>select distinct substrING( firstname, 2, 5 ) as firstname
>   from #x1
>   order by firstname -- this is the output column Name
>
>DROP TABLE #X1
>

It is the group by that doesn't use output column names not the order by.