Robert,

> Select distinct substr(ZIP,1,5)
>
> returns a field named substr with all the values.
>
> This is really stupid.

All expressions generate column names on which I would never count.
I always use an alias if I need to impose a name (and I always need).
BTW, what should it return? Should it use "ZIP" as the column name?
Should I call "body" what is actually a leg?
Ciao
--
____
_/\/ando