Returning a partial string

[jda]

Hi Ruslan,

I have a text field with a list of names, separated by return characters.

I'd like to be able to sort by just the *1st* name, ignoring the 
others. Of course, if there is just one name (which would not end in 
a return) I want to sort by that.

How to put this all in one sql statement?

SELECT * from table ORDER BY Left(textField, (LOCATE(chr(13), textfield)))

looks like it might retrieve the first name, but would get nothing if 
there was no return char.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jon