Selecting Just 1 Of Duplicates

boomers · 09-11-2010, 04:18 PM

I've an SQL select statement that I use to display some records within a DataList. Within my database there are duplicate records (not in error, they are supposed to be there), but instead of these duplicates showing in the Datalist for every record; I want just one to be shown.

Records in database:
ID Names
1 John
2 Sean
3 Michael
4 John
5 William

Required selected:
John
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/676787-selecting-just-1-of-duplicates.html
Sean
Michael
William

Does anyone know who to achieve this?

---------- Post added at 11:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 PM ----------

I've found the 'distinct' statement but cant get it to only use one column for the duplicates...

Records in database:
ID Names
1 John 18
2 Sean 18
3 Michael 19
4 John 18
5 William 21

Required selected:
John 18
Sean 18
Michael 19
William 21

baxter · 09-12-2010, 06:25 PM

Group by will work for you

Code:

SELECT * FROM (TABLE) GROUP BY names

eagle12 · 09-15-2010, 07:43 PM

To use distinct you need to have exactly the same info returned. When you do a select *, it is including you id. If you just wrote:

select distinct Names from table;

that would return what you are looking for.

defaultuser · 09-15-2010, 10:12 PM

Select help from google where searchterm = sql

eagle12 · 09-16-2010, 07:17 PM

That's helpful. Arrogant people like you are the problem with forums like this.

defaultuser · 09-16-2010, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by eagle12

That's helpful. Arrogant people like you are the problem with forums like this.

Actually I was just trying to be cute. If the answer had not already been stated then I would have provided it to you. I'm actually not a jerk.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=676787

The GROUP BY will work just fine - the DISTINCT won't work as you found out. A distinct is just a specialized form of group (done by all selected columns) - I find this just confuses people.

I'm not sure why you think there's a problem with forums like this. You posted your question - you got an answer. Sounds like it is working fairly well to me.

I apologize for offending you. Please lighten up!

09-11-2010, 04:18 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
boomers NamePros Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 518	Selecting Just 1 Of Duplicates I've an SQL select statement that I use to display some records within a DataList. Within my database there are duplicate records (not in error, they are supposed to be there), but instead of these duplicates showing in the Datalist for every record; I want just one to be shown. Records in database: ID Names 1 John 2 Sean 3 Michael 4 John 5 William Required selected: John ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/676787-selecting-just-1-of-duplicates.html Sean Michael William Does anyone know who to achieve this? ---------- Post added at 11:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 PM ---------- I've found the 'distinct' statement but cant get it to only use one column for the duplicates... Records in database: ID Names 1 John 18 2 Sean 18 3 Michael 19 4 John 18 5 William 21 Required selected: John 18 Sean 18 Michael 19 William 21 __________________ Free Horse Racing Tips

09-12-2010, 06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
baxter NamePros Regular Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 360	Group by will work for you Code: SELECT * FROM (TABLE) GROUP BY names __________________ Canadian Domain Registrar Ready.ca

09-15-2010, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
defaultuser Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: internet@ctivist.com Posts: 4,790	Select help from google where searchterm = sql __________________ A Member of: IdeationTeam.com HowToBeADomainer.com - a Domaining How To AuthorEditor.com

09-15-2010, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
eagle12 NamePros Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 127	To use distinct you need to have exactly the same info returned. When you do a select *, it is including you id. If you just wrote: select distinct Names from table; that would return what you are looking for.

09-16-2010, 07:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
eagle12 NamePros Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 127	That's helpful. Arrogant people like you are the problem with forums like this.

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