> select * from > (select date, eventtype1stuff_1, eventtype1stuff_2, null, null from > eventtype1 > union > select date, null, null, eventtype2stuff_1, eventtype2stuff_2 from > eventtype2) > order by date desc; Note that you don't need the subselect. The following will work: select date, eventtype1stuff_1, eventtype1stuff_2, null, null from eventtype1 union all select date, null, null, eventtype2stuff_1, eventtype2stuff_2 from eventtype2 order by date desc; At least it works on Sybase. A quick look at the ANSI standard gave me no insight. Further changing "union" to "union all" will make it slightly more efficient, because it will skip the step of eliminating duplicates. Mike