how to use distinct with order by clause

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SQL-Server-2008

SELECT DISTINCT empid FROM empcdetails ORDER BY empdoj

executing the above statement it shows an error as fallows

Error

ORDER BY items must appear in the select list if SELECT DISTINCT is specified

from pradeep

Posted 19-Dec-12 17:53pm

Member 9576671

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sisir patro · Answer 1 · 2012-12-19T18:05:00

Solution 1

Yes, ORDER BY clause with DISTINCT keyword needs the column to be specified in the selection list like:

SQL

SELECT DISTINCT empid, empdoj FROM empcdetails ORDER BY empdoj

Thanks

Posted 19-Dec-12 18:05pm

sisir patro

Comments

Member 9576671 21-Dec-12 1:37am

thanks ,give an example query

[no name] 21-Dec-12 2:42am

If this helped you then accept the answer and upgrade it.
Thanks

Christian Graus · Answer 2 · 2012-12-19T18:05:00

Solution 2

You can't order by something you did not select, when you use DISTINCT because if there's two empids with different empdoj values, how does it know how to order them ? You need to select empdoj as well ( which means it won't be distinct ) or you need to lose the order by

Posted 19-Dec-12 18:05pm

Christian Graus