>< 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.

This is correct because grouping a output column is a contradiction.