>SQL server is ANSISQL-92 compliant with some extensions for efficiency. OTOH VFP SQL is not fully ANSISQL-92 compliant.
>There are many commands (or clauses should I say) that makes SQL usage much easier in SQL server. VFP doesn't have them - but adds some of them. ie: Insert/Select existed in SQL server but introduced to VFP in VFP8.
>As per group by not only that above syntax is valid there are others like CUBE and ROLLUP. These exist in ANSISQL-92 AFAIK but not in VFP implementation.
>IOW these are theoretic differences where I might be saying wrong too (though read SQL server architecture at least 2 times my memory might not serve well:) I decided not to care about their differences much and find a working solution in both as need arises :)
>
>SELECT YEAR(AddDate) AS Test FROM News GROUP BY Test
>or
>SELECT YEAR(AddDate) AS Test FROM News GROUP BY 1
>
>Would work in VFP.

Thanks for this well detailed explanation. Yes, I was looking for a common SQL syntax where I have an object which generates some code. Where it can be common, it's a big plus for me as I don't have to check if I have to generate the SQL syntax for SQL Server or VFP.