Maybe Im doing this wrong, but the only way to ORDER BY or LIMIT in a mysql stored proc is to concat the whole query into a string, and then execute the string... what a load of sh*t!!!

Also another thing, what good is the IF-THEN-ELSE if you can use it within a single select statement... you have to rewrite the intire query.

If they cant get it right, why do it at all.

Sorry... needed to let of steam some steam - time to get a better database!!!

perhaps you might explain how this is done in another database for comparison purposes

which one are you going to be using instead of mysql?