can a query return unsorted?

[pdbowling]

Hi,
I'm running this query and it's coming back sorted and I was wondering if there was an option to just display them in table order?

SELECT DISTINCT ([Department Info].[DeptGroup]) AS Dept INTO DeptGroups
FROM [Department Info];

Thanks
PB

 

[The_Doc_Man]

A question and a comment...

First, is there an index on that 'group' field? If so, it is probably affecting your result because...

Second, that 'DISTINCT' keyword is forcing an implied "group by" in order to find the distinct entries.

Without the 'DISTINCT' option, you would probably get back entries in a non-predictable order. But of course you would get duplicates.

 

[pdbowling]

Thanks

Very helpful information. My understanding of the internal workings of Access is now more complete. Thank you all so much.
PB