Querying/filtering on a date field

Anon

I feel certain this is a simple issue, but I've researched every known SQL book for help. Let's say I have 3 or 4 rows returned in a query for a single account #(primary key). I only want the latest row for this account, and I want to pull it based on the most recent date. Anyone know how I can do this without performing the entire IF / ELSE routine?

Example:
Acct # Name Last_Update
12345 Smith 2000-10-13
12345 Smith 2001-11-30
12345 Smith 2001-12-11

Thanks for any info you can offer! I'm in great need of your expertise!

Michelle

wmvdwerf

Have a look at http://www.mysql.com/doc/e/x/example-Maximum-row.html

Chapter .5.2 The Row Holding the Maximum of a Certain Column

Anon

I guess I should have been more specific - I have no problem pulling the absolute max of the date field in the entire database. What I need is to pull the max date for each primary key (let's say account #).

Example:

Acct # Name Last_Update
12345 Smith 2000-10-13
12345 Smith 2001-11-30
12345 Smith 2001-12-11
54321 Jones 2000-10-12
54321 Jones 2001-09-07
54321 Jones 2001-12-12

I need my query to pull the most current date for each acct (i.e. with this example, I would like to see a result set of 2 rows, one for Smith and one for Jones)

I thank you for directing me to the MySQL page for help, but those examples are what I've already tried. I'm in SQL 7 and it doesn't seem to understand the LIMIT expression. The MAX just returns the highest in the entire db.

Thanks
Michelle