What does Order By -1 mean?

Question

Hi
Can anyone tell me what does and Order By clause with -1 mean...it's pretty confusing to me, never seen before?
Thanks
Rashed

Answer 1

Manik wrote:
it means order by the very first column from the select list.
Cheers,
Manik.
There is not "1" is "-1"
Connected to Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.3.0
SQL>
SQL> select * from(
  2  select 1,2 from dual union all
  3  select 3,1 from dual union all
  4  select 10,-15 from dual union all
  5  select 2,5 from dual
  6  )
  7  order by 1
  8  /
         1          2
         1          2
         2          5
         3          1
        10        -15
SQL>
SQL> select * from(
  2  select 1,2 from dual union all
  3  select 3,1 from dual union all
  4  select 10,-15 from dual union all
  5  select 2,5 from dual
  6  )
  7  order by 2
  8  /
         1          2
        10        -15
         3          1
         1          2
         2          5
SQL>
SQL> select * from(
  2  select 1,2 from dual union all
  3  select 3,1 from dual union all
  4  select 10,-15 from dual union all
  5  select 2,5 from dual
  6  )
  7  order by -1
  8  /
         1          2
         1          2
         3          1
        10        -15
         2          5
SQL>
SQL> select * from(
  2  select 1,2 from dual union all
  3  select 3,1 from dual union all
  4  select 10,-15 from dual union all
  5  select 2,5 from dual
  6  )
  7  order by -2
  8  /
         1          2
         1          2
         3          1
        10        -15
         2          5
SQL>
Ramin Hashimzade