Correct,
I just want a SQL one liner - something like :::

  Select contact, eligarea, groupnum, groupname, ;
   WHERE NOT DELETED() ORDER BY IIF(LEFT(contact,1) = "A", "1", "2"), contact INTO FILE c:\temp\vsamnew.txt Type SDF

>I think he means he doesn't want the field cord included in the output file. He could just COPY TO FILE FIELDS EXCEPT cord.
>
>>Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean.
>>
>>>I like it - but we need one step further so that the output to text does not reflect cord!
>>>
>>>>You can simplify it a little bit.

>>>>SELECT ...,
>>>>  IIF(LEFT(contact,1) >= "A", "1", "2") AS cord ;
>>>>  ORDER BY cord, contact
>>>>  ...

>>>>