MYSQL PAIN - select DISTINCT

[icaro]

i have a problem with mysql (da~), trying to do:

select distinct field1, field2 from table order by field3 limit 4;

i want only field1 to be distinct, but mysql doesn't like this sintaxe, it says 'there is an error near distinct...'

thanks in advance

[Anon]

Distinct is always applied to all values in the select list. Maybe you should look up group by.

Your query, as stated, also presents problems. If there are duplicated records with regard to field1 and field2 but not with regard to field3, which of the values in field3 should be used for sorting?

If you have distinct in the select clause, any columns in the order by clause must be present in the select clause.

[icaro]

thanks Lars,

field1 is a string (a title of a book, hq)
field2 is something about this book (isbn, number of pages....)
field3 is a integer with unix time (date of reliese)

this query realy have problems, but i dont know the correct sintaxe for DISTINCT in mysql.. their online manual is a bit confusing.

select distinct field1, field2 from table order by field3 limit 4;

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ic