--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Robert martin <rob@c...> wrote:

> Hi
>
> Excuse my confusion (I haven't been following this thread) but what
> exactly causes your app to die if you are using a ' Select * ' type
> query? I can understand a ' select a,b,c ' type would have problems

if

> b was removed from the base table. Am I just confused?
>

Either trying to assign a field value to a field that does not exist or
trying to assign a non existing value to a field (I forget which gives
the AV).

Even if your component set protects you (ie wraps a try except end
around it), it is still bad practice. I believe it could be used as a
litmus test to how careful you are about your query design. If you
haven't even been bothered to cull the non-essential fields from the
result set, then what is the chance the plan was analysed to make sure
it will perform well?

I agree with the original poster that it is a PITA to do it, but there
are so many ways of not having to type it in. It is an additional 30
seconds work to fire up one of the tools that gets the field names for
you.

Adam