EDIT: See edit below for explanation of why min() and max() are NOT adequate.
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The MS documentation on the functions first() and last() says “Because records are usually returned in no particular order (unless the query includes an ORDER BY clause), the records returned by these functions will be arbitrary.”
Obviously, that makes these functions pretty useless for their intended purpose unless the query includes an ORDER BY. But including that in the query is not a straightforward thing to do because these are "aggregate" functions, so a query that SELECTs on them cannot ORDER BY any other field that is not also submitted to an aggregate function.
I have found that a query based on a single table generally returns results in the order of that table’s primary key. But apparently, that cannot be relied on to always be true and may fail under certain circumstances. There's an excellent discussion of this issue in an article, DFirst/DLast and the Myth of the Sorted Result Set.
That article offers two solutions to this problem:
Option one; you first use the DMin/DMax-Function to retrieve the value from the “sortable” column ... and use this as an additional criterion to your query to retrieve the target record.
Second option; you first create a query just containing the primary key and the max value of the sortable column (e.g. CustomerId and maximum of order date). Then you create a second query on the orders and join the first query in there on these two fields. The results will be all column from the orders table but only for the most recent order of each customer.
Those instructions are pretty complicated, so I'd need to see an example of them implemented in code in order to trust myself to use them myself.
This issue has got to be very common because a lot of businesses need to know the first or last order by a customer that meets some condition. But when I Google "Access query first last "order by"", there are several results that explain the problem, including on StackOverflow, but none that lay out a solution with sample SQL code.
What is the right way to do this, including sample code of doing it?
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Edit:
Many sources online, as well as the comment below by Gustav and the proposed answer by Albert D. Kallal, say you can just use min() and max() instead of first() and last(). Obviously, that's okay if what you want is the value of a field in the record in which that field has the smallest or largest value. That's a trivial problem. What I'm talking about is how to get the value of a field in the record in which some other field has the smallest or largest value.
For example, in the answer by Albert D. Kallal, he wants the first and last tour for each customer, so he can just use min() and max() on the dates of the tours. But what if I want to know the location of the first tour for each customer? Obviously, I can't use min(location). If first() would work in a sensible way and if table [Tours] has the primary key [Date], I should be able to use something like:
(SELECT first(location) from [Tours] where [Customer] = ID_Customer)
I am using code like that and it usually gives me the right answer, but not always. So that is what I need to fix. I understand that I may need to use min() instead of first(). But how do I use min() for this since, as I said, I obviously can't just use min(location)?
Never really grasped what first() and last() does in Access.
As you note, rather common to want say last invoice or whatever.
So, say we have a table of Tours. I want the first tour date, and the last tour date.
Well, this query works:
SELECT MAX(FromDate) as LastTourDate, min(FromDate) as FirstTourDate
FROM tblTours
WHERE FromDate is not null
When I run above, I get this:
So, that gets you the min, and max - and gets you this in one query.
No real need for a order by.
However, often there are more then one table involved.
So, I might in place of JUST the first and last tour date?
I probably want a list of customers, and their first tour they took, and say their last tour. But, then again, that's a different question.
But, you again can order your main table ANY way you want, and still pluck out
(pull the min and max).
So, you can do it this way:
Say, tblMain client (people - customers whatever).
Say, tblMyTours - a list of tours they took (child table).
So, the query can look like this:
SELECT tblMainClient.FirstName, tblMainClient.LastName,
(SELECT Min(FromDate) FROM tblMyTours
WHERE tblMyTours.main_id = tblMainClient.id)
AS FirstTourDate,
(SELECT MAX(FromDate) FROM tblMyTours
WHERE tblMyTours.main_id = tblMainClient.id)
AS LastTourDate
FROM tblMainClient
so, the main query is still tblMainClient - I can order, filter, sort by any column in that main table, but we used two sub-query to get the first tour date and the last tour date. So, it will look say like this:
So, typical, we can use a sub-query, pull the max (or min) value, but restrict the sub query to the one row from our parent/main table.
edit: Get last reocrd, but SOME OTHER column
Ok, so say in our simple example, we want the last tour, but NOT the date, but say some other column - like say the last Tour name.
Ok, so we just modify the sub query to return ONLY the last reocrd, but a different column.
And since dates (say 2 invoices on the same day, or yearly tours might have the SAME name, then we need to ensure that ONLY one reocrd is returned. We do this by using top 1, but ALSO add a order by to be 100%, 200%, 300% sure that ONLY ONE top record is returned.
So, our query to get the last tour name, but based on say most recent tour date?
We can do this:
SELECT FirstName, LastName,
(SELECT TOP 1 TourName FROM tblMyTours
WHERE tblMyTours.main_id = tblMainClient.id
ORDER BY tblMyTours.FromDate DESC, tblMyTours.ID DESC)
AS LastTour
FROM tblMainClient
And that will give us the tour name, but the last one.
This:
So, you ceratinly not limited to using "max()" in that sub query.
However, what happens if we want the Tour Name, Hotel Name, and City of that tour?
In other words, it certainly reasonable that we may well want multiple columns.
There are more ways to do this then flavors of ice cream.
However, I like using the query builder for the first part.
What I do is use the standard query builder, do a join to the table and simple slect all the columns I need.
So, for above tblMainClient, and their tours from tblMyTours?
I build a join - use query builder like this:
So, note how I added the columns TourName, FromDate, HotelName and city from that child table (tblMyTours).
Now, of course the above will return 10 rows for anyone who gone on 10 trips.
So, what we do is add a WHERE clause to the child table, get the LAST pk "id" from tblMyTours, and restrict that child table to the ONE row.
So, the above query builder gives us this:
SELECT tblMainClient.ID, tblMainClient.FirstName, tblMainClient.LastName,
tblMyTours.TourName, tblMyTours.FromDate, tblMyTours.HotelName, tblMyTours.City
FROM tblMainClient
INNER JOIN tblMyTours ON
tblMainClient.ID = tblMyTours.Main_id;
(but, I did not have to write above).
So, we add a where clause to that child table join - get the CHILD table "id" in place of TourName, or Tourdate).
So above becomes this:
SELECT tblMainClient.ID, tblMainClient.FirstName, tblMainClient.LastName,
tblMyTours.TourName, tblMyTours.FromDate, tblMyTours.HotelName,
tblMyTours.City
FROM tblMainClient
INNER JOIN tblMyTours ON tblMainClient.ID = tblMyTours.Main_id
WHERE tblMyTours.ID =
(SELECT TOP 1 ID FROM tblMyTours
WHERE tblMyTours.Main_id = tblMainClient.id
ORDER BY tblMyTours.FromDate DESC, tblMyTours.ID DESC)
Now, above is a bit advanced, but OFTEN we want SEVERAL columns. But, at least the first part of the query, the two tables, and the join was done using the query builder - I did not have to type that part in.
so, if you want JUST one column - differnt then the max() critera, then use top 1 with a order by. Do keep in mind that ONLY ONE RECORD can EVER be retunred by that query - if more then one reocrd is returned, the query enginer will fail and you get a message to this fact.
So, for a produce bought, invoice date? They could by the 1 product 2 times, or 2 invoices on the same day might occur. So, by introduction of the 2nd ORDER BY clause (by ID DESC), then that top 1 will ONLY ever return one row.
So, which of the above two?
Well, if just one column from the child table - easy. But, if you want multiple columns? Then you could probably write up a "messy" solution, but I perfect to just fire up query builder, join in the child table, click on the "several" child values I want. Get the query working - and hey, it all up to this point 100% GUI.
Then we toss in the EXTRA criteria to restrict that child table row to the ONE last row, be it simple last one based on ID DESC, or say TourDate, or whatever.
And now we get this:
I'm trying to solve a problem.
As an example, let’s say I have a table containing 3 columns (Name, Timestamp, Value) with 30 unique or distinct Names and over + 1,000 rows
I have created a line chart which plots Value(Y) vs. Time(X) for each Name (series group), therefore there are 30 lines in this chart.
However, having 30 series in a chart is too cluttered and illegible for the most part. So I have placed the chart in a table (although a "List" would probably be more appropriate). I then grouped the table by "Name" which gives me one Name (series) per chart, which is great but still not ideal as this generates lots of charts and takes up many pages.
I would now like to keep the name grouping but have 5 Names (series) per chart.
I believe this is something simple but I’ve battled with this by searching and trying numerous grouping expressions for several days without any success.
Also , the order or ranking is not important.
Here is a grouping example that comes close to what I need but is not suitable as it groups per 5 lines rather than 5 per distinct name.
This expression groups per 5 lines… =Cieling(RowNumber(Nothing)/5)
Thanks
John.
The easiest way to solve your problem is to add that information on your query. If you're using SQL Server you can add to your query:
SELECT Name, Timestamp, Value,
ROW_NUMBER() OVER(PARTITION BY Name) as rownum
....
And then your grouping expression on the table can be =Fields!rownum.Value Mod 5
I have multiple select statements from different tables on the same database. I was using multiple, separate queries then loading to my array and sorting (again, after ordering in query).
I would like to combine into one statement to speed up results and make it easier to "load more" (see bottom).
Each query uses SELECT, LEFT JOIN, WHERE and ORDER BY commands which are not the same for each table.
I may not need order by in each statement, but I want the end result, ultimately, to be ordered by a field representing a time (not necessarily the same field name across all tables).
I would want to limit total query results to a number, in my case 100.
I then use a loop through results and for each row I test if OBJECTNAME_ID (ie; comment_id, event_id, upload_id) isset then LOAD_WHATEVER_OBJECT which takes the row and pushes data into an array.
I won't have to sort the array afterwards because it was loaded in order via mysql.
Later in the app, I will "load more" by skipping the first 100, 200 or whatever page*100 is and limit by 100 again with the same query.
The end result from the database would pref look like "this":
RESULT - selected fields from a table - field to sort on is greatest
RESULT - selected fields from a possibly different table - field to sort on is next greatest
RESULT - selected fields from a possibly different table table - field to sort on is third greatest
etc, etc
I see a lot of simpler combined statements, but nothing quite like this.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
easiest way might be a UNION here ( http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/union.html ):
(SELECT a,b,c FROM t1)
UNION
(SELECT d AS a, e AS b, f AS c FROM t2)
ORDER BY a DESC
I am trying to build an access report based on data from multiple different tables within the database.
I have 3 columns which perform calculations, and I am wondering how to put this query together. All 3 columns deal with dates, but calculate them differently.
The first column retrieves the most recent date of action for a userid if the type of action is "B":
select pid, Max(date) as most_recent
from actions
where ref = 'B'
group by pid;
The second column performs a calculation based on 2 fields, one is a date and one is a number in months. I am unsure how to add these two fields so that the number is added to the date as a number of months.
what i have so far is:
select nummonths,Max(lastvisit) from users
the third column I need to select the first date thats in the future for each user (next appointment date), there will be dates before and after this date so its a little difficult:
select uid,date from visits
The code for the last 2 queries needs to be slightly modified, and I was wondering what the best approach would be to join these all together? A type of join?
If you need to build a report with data from the 3 queries, you will need related data to join them. In that case, please send the structure of the tables.
If you need to show 3 lists in one report, you can use subreports: create a new empty report. In design mode, you can add 3 subreports from the toolbox bar. To each of the subreport assign the record source property to the corresponding sql.
regards
I am unsure how to add these two fields so that the number is added to the date as a number of months.
Use the DateAdd() function:
SELECT DateAdd("m", 2, LastVisit) FROM ...
Results in a date two months from the LastVisit date.
I have a table of items that need to be displayed in a certain order, but that order can be changed. Items can be added at the beginning, end, or in the middle, and items can be rearranged. How can I set up the table to keep track of that order in such a way that it's easy to modify but the list can also be fetched in order with a single query?
For example, I could have a "NEXT_ID" column to do it linked list-style, but then how would I run a SELECT query to get the rows in order of the NEXT_ID chain?
Apologies in advance for the super-obvious solution I'm probably missing.
I have this problem often, and I solved it with a simple solution : an extra column called Sort Order (or DisplayOrder, whatever floats your boat really) . This allows me the flexibility to use auto-generated, auto-incremented ID column and have a special pre-defined sort.
In my case, I need them to come out of the database with an alphabetical order except that some items like "Other" and "N/A" are always last.
ProdID ProdText SortOrder
2 "Anchovies" 1
3 "Rivet" 2
4 "N/A" 4
5 "Other" 3
SELECT ProdID, ProdText ORDER BY Sort Order
Create a column in the table that represents the sort order. Put an index on this column so that the MySQL engine can retrieve based on this column quickly. When you change the order, update the values in this field for all records to keep it consistent.
For example, when you insert a new record in the middle:
UPDATE table SET sort_order = sort_order + 1 WHERE sort_order >= 5;
INSERT INTO table (sort_order, column1, column2) VALUES (5, 'value1', 'value2');
Something more complicated, like moving #3 down to #6 and sliding all others up:
UPDATE table
SET sort_order = Case sort_order When 3 Then 6 Else sort_order - 1 End
WHERE sort_order BETWEEN 3 AND 6;
If you want to avoid the sort order, you can try a "parent" column and consider the linked list to be a special case of a tree like structure. This article may help.
http://mikehillyer.com/articles/managing-hierarchical-data-in-mysql/
There are other articles out there:
http://ferdychristant.com/blog//archive/DOMM-7QJPM7
Keep in mind that selecting a long linked list may degrade performance though.
Unless I am misunderstanding what you are looking for it would seem you could just add a DISPLAY_ORDER column that is a numeric index of how things should be returned. This can easily be changed and rearranged. Plus value can be used in order by.
easiest solution: use a column named "display_order" in which you set 1,2,3 and so on. The query would be sorted with "ORDER BY display_order".
To edit this (if youre in a website related environment) use javascript with + and - buttons for example. everytime you do + the number increments and if something with the number exists itll get decreased so they switch positions.