> If you're just after brevity, try: > > SELECT o.id, o.order_ref, con.contact_surname, com.company_name FROM orders o LEFT JOIN (contacts con, companies com, addresses a) > ON (o.contact_id=con.id AND con.company_id = com.id AND o.address_id=a.id); Thanks Brian, that's just what I was after! I owe you a couple of beers ;-) Regards Richard