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RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

zymos — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:47:41 GMT

The RANK Function is a pretty interesting topic and a great pick. Below is an great example too using the AdventureWorks200R2 database.URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189798.aspxThank you for the question.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Dhruvesh Shah — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:03:03 GMT

I knew that Rank() skips the number if there is a tie but thought it's still consecutive number in a sense next available int number.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

WayneS — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:30:17 GMT

[quote][b]toddasd (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Is it considered cheating that I went to the BOL before answering the question and read "If two or more rows tie for a rank, each tied rows receives the same rank."?[/quote]"Cheating" implies that this is a test - which it isn't. QotD is designed to do just this - get you looking into areas of SQL that you might not have been aware of. If you researched something, and learned from it, then mission accomplished.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Carlo Romagnano — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:26:51 GMT

[quote][b]Koen (da-zero) (1/6/2011)[/b][hr][quote][b]toddasd (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Is it considered cheating that I went to the BOL before answering the question and read "If two or more rows tie for a rank, each tied rows receives the same rank."?[/quote]I don't consider doing research and learning from it cheating.I'm not going to memorize every feature, trace flag, syntax, dmv of SQL Server. If I need something, I'll look it up :-)[/quote]I agree! It's impossible to remember details of every command of every language.:-)

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Koen Verbeeck — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:54:58 GMT

[quote][b]toddasd (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Is it considered cheating that I went to the BOL before answering the question and read "If two or more rows tie for a rank, each tied rows receives the same rank."?[/quote]I don't consider doing research and learning from it cheating.I'm not going to memorize every feature, trace flag, syntax, dmv of SQL Server. If I need something, I'll look it up :-)

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

toddasd — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:37:24 GMT

Is it considered cheating that I went to the BOL before answering the question and read "If two or more rows tie for a rank, each tied rows receives the same rank."?

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

SQLRNNR — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:33:34 GMT

Thanks for the question.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

UMG Developer — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:49:48 GMT

Thanks for the question!

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Revenant — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:16:29 GMT

[quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]There are several ranking functions:. . . One row is still a non empty rowset but that was not explained in the provided explanation.[/quote]You are absolutely right. Thank you for pointing out this boundary case.In my defense, I am still doing better than SQLS BOL which are not mentioning an empty set.;-)

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Hugo Kornelis — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:32:51 GMT

[quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Another way to put this is if the question said:In a non-empty rowset, ROW_NUMBER() always returns consecutive integers.What would you answer? True or False?I'd still answer False because it's possible to have a one-row rowset but the author is probably thinking True.[/quote]I guess I'd first check to see if you are the author of that question ;)But had I seen such a question before today, then I think there's about 80% chance I'd have replied True.If the correct answer had been False because of PARTITION BY, I would have slapped myself on the forehead and complimented the question's author.If the correct answer had been False because of a single-row rowset "not being consecutive", I would have felt misled and cheated.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

cengland0 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:16:28 GMT

Another way to put this is if the question said:In a non-empty rowset, ROW_NUMBER() always returns consecutive integers.What would you answer? True or False?I'd still answer False because it's possible to have a one-row rowset but the author is probably thinking True. I did get the answer for this QOTD correct.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

cengland0 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:07:17 GMT

[quote][b]WayneS (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Yes, there are several. However, this question is about the RANK() function, so why even bring these others into the mix?[/quote]Because I usually have to look them up to make sure I'm using the right one. But in this case, I didn't have to look anything up because none of them would return consecutive integers (when there is a one-row result).[quote]Are you just trying to find fault with the question?[/quote]Not necessarily. I do work for a very large company, in the training organization, and would consider myself an expert on quizzes. There have been cases of companies firing employees during training for failing tests. To avoid legal issues, you better look at each question carefully to make sure the answer they selected can never be a correct answer. For this reason, I am always looking at these QOTD's with a different eye than a regular person.In a previous company, I have been involved in the process of firing and disciplinary actions of employees not passing tests. I've also had to gather supporting documentation to take to court when an ex-employee took legal action.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

WayneS — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 04:50:35 GMT

[quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]There are several ranking functions:RANKDENSE_RANKNTILEROW_NUMBER[/quote] Yes, there are several. However, this question is about the RANK() function, so why even bring these others into the mix?[quote]When the question asked will it always return consecutive integers, I knew right away that it was false because none of them will always return consecutive integers if there is only one row. One row is still a non empty rowset but that was not explained in the provided explanation.[/quote]Are you just trying to find fault with the question?A better argument would have been that all of the windowing functions accept a PARTITION BY clause, which re-starts the numbering - thus the results are not always sequential. However, sometimes you just have to go with what you know the author meant to convey.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Koen Verbeeck — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:42:38 GMT

[quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr][quote][b]Hugo Kornelis (1/6/2011)[/b][hr][quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Meh, I could just as well say that everything is consecutive in a single-row rowset.According to [url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive]http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive[/url], "consecutive" means (a.o.) "Following one after another without interruption" - and in a single row row-set, there can never be any interruption.[/quote]You forgot a major component of the definition of consecutive. The "one after another" part. When you have a one row rowset, how can you have one after another in the resultset? That means you must have a minimum of two rows to have one after another.[/quote]If you really want to take it to a filosophical level, you could argue that one row comes after nothing.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

cengland0 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:38:10 GMT

[quote][b]Hugo Kornelis (1/6/2011)[/b][hr][quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]Meh, I could just as well say that everything is consecutive in a single-row rowset.According to [url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive]http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive[/url], "consecutive" means (a.o.) "Following one after another without interruption" - and in a single row row-set, there can never be any interruption.[/quote]You forgot a major component of the definition of consecutive. The "one after another" part. When you have a one row rowset, how can you have one after another in the resultset? That means you must have a minimum of two rows to have one after another.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Hugo Kornelis — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:32:39 GMT

[quote][b]cengland0 (1/6/2011)[/b][hr]When the question asked will it always return consecutive integers, I knew right away that it was false because none of them will always return consecutive integers if there is only one row.[/quote]Meh, I could just as well say that everything is consecutive in a single-row rowset.According to [url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive]http://www.thefreedictionary.com/consecutive[/url], "consecutive" means (a.o.) "Following one after another without interruption" - and in a single row row-set, there can never be any interruption.The reason that RANK does not return consecutive values is how ties are handled - for instance, if the RANK is based on the scores {9.6, 8.4, 9.6}, the results would be[code="other"]Score Rank9.6 19.6 18.4 3[/code]Because two rows get the rank 1, the value 2 is skipped. That makes the values non-consecutive.

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

Koen Verbeeck — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:12:58 GMT

Nice and easy. Thanks!

RE: RANK() returns consecutive integers

cengland0 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:09:06 GMT

There are several ranking functions:RANKDENSE_RANKNTILEROW_NUMBERWhen the question asked will it always return consecutive integers, I knew right away that it was false because none of them will always return consecutive integers if there is only one row. One row is still a non empty rowset but that was not explained in the provided explanation.

RANK() returns consecutive integers

Revenant — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:02:51 GMT

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