In the manual we see: * Columns selected for output can be referred to in `ORDER BY' and `GROUP BY' clauses using column names, column aliases, or column positions. Column positions are integers and begin with 1:
mysql> SELECT college, region, seed FROM tournament -> ORDER BY region, seed; mysql> SELECT college, region AS r, seed AS s FROM tournament -> ORDER BY r, s; mysql> SELECT college, region, seed FROM tournament -> ORDER BY 2, 3; To sort in reverse order, add the `DESC' (descending) keyword to the name of the column in the `ORDER BY' clause that you are sorting by. The default is ascending order; this can be specified explicitly using the `ASC' keyword. Use of column positions is deprecated because the syntax has been removed from the SQL standard. Only in the last sentence are we alerted that what we have just studied is deprecated! Warn before, not after, mentioning deprecated material. P.S., mention how to "SELECT *" except one or two fields. E.g., one wants to SELECT 24 of the 25 fields. Does he have to list all 24 in the command or is there some shortcut to say "SELECT * EXCPET nurd"? Or is he best just piping to Unix cut(1). P.S., in 12.3 String Functions mention how one can do the equivalent of Unix "cat -v", to convert non printable characters into something printable. (I don't want to send a 0x83 to iconv -f big5 -t utf8, but at the same time don't want to use ASCII() on perfectly printable ASCII. Maybe I could use EXPORT_SET() but it is documented over my head. OK, did SELECT IF(ASCII(x)>127,ASCII(x),x) for now. P.S., make valid HTML: $ mysql -H ...|validate *** Errors: *** Error at line 1, character 1: missing document type declaration; assuming HTML 4.01 Transitional Error at line 1, character 16: document type does not allow element "TABLE" here And why don't you (optionally, default=yes) throw a newline in after each line, in case one ever needs to view the source. $ mysql -H ...|wc 0 476 31519 By gosh, that is the longest line I have ever encountered in my life with computers. While you are at it, here we have to look into the 180+ column to get at the meat of this error message: ERROR 1064 (42000) at line 1: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'SEPARATOR ' '' at line 1 Perhaps add newlines, or put the meat before column 80, or both. P.S., admit the bug mailing address mysql@lists.mysql.com at the end of the bug submission discussion, so e.g., even if mysqlbug is broken, one can still get thru. P.S., GNU General Public License: their address is no longer on Temple Place. -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]