>Nigel ---
>
>I'm confused: An identity datatype column in SQL Server maintains itself; you don't attempt to update it from the client end at all....so..??
>
>

Sorry, worded wrong. The receiving table has an identity column. If I do insert into select, the documentation says that the column list should match the receiving table structure -- what if the receiving table has an identity column? What if this identity column is column one of the receiving table? The select column list would not contain this.