Write down on a pcs of paper

A -> table1
B -> table2
C -> table3
D -> table4
AB -> table1+table2


>>Nothing to do with requirements for Oracle. It was my boss' requirement to make my sql statement shorter<g>. I think their because with large systems, it's easy to get knarly sql statements, they've developed a standard of apprevating where they can.
>>
>
>Hi Perry,
>
>I also use short aliases (2-3 letters in most cases) all the time because it makes complex queries more readable. My objection is to use of one letter alliaces a,b,c,d which have nothing to do with table names. If you see somewhere in the query 'b.somefield' you cannot tell what table it's referencing w/o going back to FROM or JOIN clause. On other hand if you see 'ord.somefield' it easier to remember that it's referencing Order table.