What I want to do is do a query joining table A with B and sorting
firstly on a field in Table A then on several fields in Table B.
SELECT a.gdn_gdn, a.gdn_custref, a.gdn_date, a.gdn_address_name,
a.gdn_method, b.gdn_stockref, b.gdn_row, b.gdn_bay, b.gdn_shelf
FROM a
LEFT JOIN b
ON a.gdn_gdn = b.gdn_gdn
ORDER BY a.gdn_method,b.gdn_row, b.gdn_bay, b.gdn_shelf
It would help if you gave an example comparing the above query results with your desired results. It would also help if you actually provided a detailed description of you goal instead of the generic one quoted above. Given your stated need the query does exactly what you requested.
David J.