When I run the following SQL statement:
SELECT MAX(SUM(TIME))
FROM downloads
GROUP BY SSN
It returns the maximum sum value of downloads by a customer, however if I try to find the social security number that that max value belongs to by adding it to the select statement:
SELECT SSN, MAX(SUM(TIME))
FROM downloads
GROUP BY SSN
I get the following error:
not a single-group group function
I do not understand why it is throwing this error. A google search came up with the following action:
Drop either the group function or the individual column expression from the SELECT list or add a GROUP BY clause that includes all individual column expressions listed
From what I think this is saying
- dropping the group function makes the sum value invalid
- droping the individual column expression (SSN) will just give me the max sum
- not sure about that third part.
Could anyone guide in the right direction?
-Tomek
EDIT: TIME in this database refers to the number of times downloaded
Well the problem simply-put is that the SUM(TIME) for a specific SSN on your query is a single value, so it's objecting to MAX as it makes no sense (The maximum of a single value is meaningless).
Not sure what SQL database server you're using but I suspect you want a query more like this (Written with a MSSQL background - may need some translating to the sql server you're using):
SELECT TOP 1 SSN, SUM(TIME)
FROM downloads
GROUP BY SSN
ORDER BY 2 DESC
This will give you the SSN with the highest total time and the total time for it.
Edit - If you have multiple with an equal time and want them all you would use:
SELECT
SSN, SUM(TIME)
FROM downloads
GROUP BY SSN
HAVING SUM(TIME)=(SELECT MAX(SUM(TIME)) FROM downloads GROUP BY SSN))
If you want downloads number for each customer, use:
select ssn
, sum(time)
from downloads
group by ssn
If you want just one record -- for a customer with highest number of downloads -- use:
select *
from (
select ssn
, sum(time)
from downloads
group by ssn
order by sum(time) desc
)
where rownum = 1
However if you want to see all customers with the same number of downloads, which share the highest position, use:
select *
from (
select ssn
, sum(time)
, dense_rank() over (order by sum(time) desc) r
from downloads
group by ssn
)
where r = 1
Maybe you find this simpler
select * from (
select ssn, sum(time) from downloads
group by ssn
order by sum(time) desc
) where rownum <= 10 --top 10 downloaders
Regards
K