PRB: String Functions Cannot Be Used with SQL ORDER BY Clause

 Last reviewed: October 29, 1996
Article ID: Q157188
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows versions, 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

String functions such as LEFT(), RIGHT(), and SUBSTR() cannot be used with the ORDER BY clause of the SQL - SELECT statement. Doing so results in the following error message: 

   SQL Column '' is not found

CAUSE

ORDER BY supports only columns either by name or number, it does not support any other expressions.

WORKAROUND

Create a dummy column using the string function and then order by that column, as in the following example: 

   SELECT *,LEFT(Prod_name,5) AS x FROM PRODUCTS ORDER BY x

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Open Testdata database in the HOME()+"Samples\Data\" directory.

  2. Issue the following command: 

          SELECT * FROM Products ORDER BY LEFT(Prod_name,5)

KBCategory: kbprg kbprb
KBSubcategory: FxprgSql
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00b 5.00 kbdse VFoxWin



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Last reviewed: October 29, 1996
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