Re: little sql syntax question

        The problem is that DISTINCT isn't a function. That being the case you have to concatenate columns b and c in order to get distinct to work.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 4/15/00, 5:13:33 PM, dcowles_at_i84.net (Doug Cowles) wrote regarding little sql syntax question:

> If I have a table with 3 columns(a,b,c), and I want to check the
> distinct values of 2 of out of the three, (to see if the remaining
> values are duplicated, assuming one of them is a primary key, although
 

> perhaps an ill-defined one in theory), I can do a couple of things.
> I could temporarily put a unique index on the remaining columns to see
 

> if it succeeds.
> Or, I could do a select count(distinct(b||c)) from table A; (to
> compare it with the count of the table).
> This is my question.. why the ||? It would seem I can't do a select
> distinct (b,c) from A. Am I really reduced to a string comparison? Or
 

> is there another way? Hope this isn't to obfuscated...
 

> Thanks,
> Dc.
Received on Sun Apr 16 2000 - 00:00:00 CDT