Thanks everyone
Jim

>The GROUP BY is pointless because it either will generate an error or only last group value will be assigned.

DECLARE @NumOrders
>Select @NumOrders = count(order_id)
>From Orders
>

>
>
>>Can you
>>DECLARE @NumOrders
>>
>>Select count(order_id)
>> into @NumOrders
>>From Orders
>>Group by order_id
>>
>>Thanks
>>Jim