Re: And the correct answer is?

"sfk" <nospan_at_noway.org> wrote in message news:3E8E0B9E.B0B9251F_at_noway.org...
> SELECT empno, ename FROM emp ORDER BY 1;

I would object that interpreting 1 in the above query as column#1 is a good idea in the first place. Indeed, "order by" clause allows arbitrary expression wtich can involve any function upon columns, for example

SELECT empno, ename FROM emp ORDER BY lower(empno) || ename

"1" is just a constant function (or constant expression), so that

SELECT empno, ename FROM emp ORDER BY 1

must be equivalent to

SELECT empno, ename FROM emp ORDER BY 2

and to just

SELECT empno, ename FROM emp

If you are still not convinced, what in your opinion should

select * from emp order by 2 || 3

return? Received on Thu Apr 03 2003 - 17:22:20 CST