Thanks for the answer.
I realize that the speed differences between the two types
of query will not be huge (they may add up for multiple
users?)

But is there a difference in the workings of query
optimiser between the two types of query? Does the engine
have to work harder for "*" than for named fields?

>
> It depends on how you are accessing the data within PHP,
> but if a field
> name gets changed in the database, * will access it
> without problems,
> but the application complains. IF you use the field
> names, then the
> SELECT will fail, and it's easier to find the problem.
> Speed wise there
> is not a lot of difference, but good programming practice
> would be to
> always use the names.
>
> --
> Lester Caine
> -----------------------------
> L.S.Caine Electronic Services
>

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250