SELECT * INTO retains ORDER BY in SQL Server 2008 but not 2012

Question

Execute the following SQL in 2008 and 2012. When executed in 2008, the returned result is in its correct sort order. In 2012, the sortorder is not retained.

Is this

Answer 1

When using ORDER BY with an INSERT, it has never been guaranteed to do anything other than control the order of the identity column if present.

Prior to SQL Server 2012, the optimizer always produced a plan as if an identity column existed and thus appears to order correctly. SQL Server 2012 correctly does not assume an identity column exists, and only orders if the table actually has an identity column.

So you can resolve this issue by adding an Identity column to your temp result table.

However, you really should just add an ORDER BY clause to your SELECT statement? SELECT statements without an ORDER BY have never been guaranteed to return the results in any specific order. Always add the ORDER BY clause to ensure you receive the results the way you expect.