Dariusz Zelichowski wrote:

> 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?

If anything * will be slower, because the first thing it does is reads
the list of fields, after that there will be no difference. Obviously
the main savings come when you just select a few fields from a large
table. All the other overheads will swamp any difference on three field
names verses * on the same table.

--
Lester Caine
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L.S.Caine Electronic Services