SQL Inner Join respect order of primary table (DBF files DBASE IV)

Question

I'm integrating a solution with a point of sale software. I'm almost done just need to get the ordering/sequence correct.

I'm working in VB.net.

This is my query:

 SELECT B.DESCRIPT AS description,
 B.REF_NO AS upc,
 A.QUANTY AS quantity,
 ROUND((A.PRICE_PAID * (1+(C.TAX_PCT/100))),2) AS unit_price,
 A.DEL_CODE AS discount_percent
 FROM (TABLE.DBF A INNER JOIN MENU.DBF B ON B.REF_NO = A.REF_NO),
 TAXTBL.DBF C
 WHERE C.TAX_DESC='TAX'

And it yields a result something like this: (sequence is an auto-incrementing column set to the datatable)

The results from the query are being ordered by the upc/REF_NO, due to the inner join between TABLE.DBF and MENU.DBF. When I take out the MENU.DBF components, I get the correct order from TABLE.DBF.

I need to make this query respect the order from TABLE.DBF. The items should be ordered as such: (time_sent doesnt help because (1) its a batch of items and (2) multiple items can be added even within the same second)

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

I am not sure about dbf, but in almost all SQL I have run into the order is an implementation detail, so you should not rely on it and should provide your own order.

That would mean using an ORDER BY xyz at the end of your query