Thanks once again and cheers,

Update:

From MySQL FAQ

If you don't use the keyword ALL for the UNION, all returned rows will be unique, as if you had done a DISTINCT for the total result set. If you specify ALL, you will get all matching rows from all the used SELECT statements.

Think in terms of sets. A set is, mathematically, a bunch of unique items. So, when you union two sets, you take all the unique items that appear in either set. '2' already appeared, so it won't be added again the second time its seen. (It's not exactly like that, but that's the basic idea.)

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested

Thanks, dragonchild!

I found the MySQL faq which explains the difference. But yours added a different dimension to it which makes it clearer :)

I think it would be easier to quote the documentation:

UNION

Specifies that multiple result sets are to be combined and returned as
+ a single result set.

ALL

Incorporates all rows into the results, including duplicates. If not s
+pecified, duplicate rows are removed.
[download]

/J\

janitored by ybiC: Replace <pre> tags with <code> to avoid lateral scrolling