Sql server sorting issues

  • Hi Guys.I need some help

    I'm doing a sellers report for my boss.

    I have done a top sellers and it worked fine.I have even done a worst sellers and it worked

    I need to do something that is neither top nor worst.

    It has to be a middle sellers report

    Does sql have any syntax for sorting that out

    If i sort by asc it gives me the lowest figures

    If i sort by desc it gives me highest figures.

    Is there any way to sort the middle figures out?

  • Yes, you can sort out the middle. The easiest way to do it would be to create 2 temp tables. One for worst sellers, one for top sellers. Then join the sellers table to both of these tables and select everyone who does not exist in one of the other two tables.

    Common Table Expressions would also work for this too, but I find temp tables the easiest to do for those who haven't learned CTEs yet.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Let me give that a try.thanks

    Any easier way?

  • I know half a dozen ways to do what you've requested. But any easier than the easiest way I posted above?

    If you find one, let me know.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Thanks

  • Brandie Tarvin (9/19/2013)


    I know half a dozen ways to do what you've requested. But any easier than the easiest way I posted above?

    If you find one, let me know.

    Rather than writing the query you described as the final step of your method, wouldn't it be easier to write

    SELECT * FROM #ALLSELLERS

    EXCEPT SELECT * FROM #WORSTSELLERS

    EXCEPT SELECT * FROM #TOPSELLERS

    or even

    SELECT * FROM #ALLSELLERS EXCEPT (

    SELECT * FROM #WORSTSELLERS UNION ALL SELECT * FROM #TOPSELLERS)

    if you think using brackets makes it less confusing.

    Tom

  • As a side note, this does get easier in SQL 2012 with OFFSET-FETCH:

    http://www.dbadiaries.com/new-t-sql-features-in-sql-server-2012-offset-and-fetch

  • Hi you could also use NTILE.

    As an example

    WITH sampledata AS (

    SELECT *, NTILE(5) OVER (ORDER BY Numbers DESC) N

    FROM (VALUES

    ('A',134)

    ,('B',122)

    ,('C',88)

    ,('D',82)

    ,('E',33)

    ,('F',22)

    ,('G',18)

    ,('H',4)

    ,('I',1)

    ,('J',1)

    ) SD(Book,Numbers)

    )

    SELECT Book, Numbers,

    CASE WHEN N = 1 THEN 'TOP 20%'

    WHEN N = 5 THEN 'BOTTOM 20%'

    WHEN N = 3 THEN 'MIDDLE 20%'

    ELSE ''

    END

    FROM sampledata

    --WHERE N = 3

    Edit: cleaned up query a bit to make it clearer

  • NTILE?

    This is the first time I've heard of that one. Thanks, Micky.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • L' Eomot Inversé (9/19/2013)


    Brandie Tarvin (9/19/2013)


    I know half a dozen ways to do what you've requested. But any easier than the easiest way I posted above?

    If you find one, let me know.

    Rather than writing the query you described as the final step of your method, wouldn't it be easier to write

    SELECT * FROM #ALLSELLERS

    EXCEPT SELECT * FROM #WORSTSELLERS

    EXCEPT SELECT * FROM #TOPSELLERS

    or even

    SELECT * FROM #ALLSELLERS EXCEPT (

    SELECT * FROM #WORSTSELLERS UNION ALL SELECT * FROM #TOPSELLERS)

    if you think using brackets makes it less confusing.

    Given the question, I wasn't sure if the OP knew about the EXCEPT operator, so I opted to keep it simple with the very basics I thought (s)he would know.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Hi, mickyT!

    Your method only works if the number of rows is a multiple of 5. Try and remove the ('J',1) and your bottom 20 per cent has only one record.

  • Andreas P. Williams (9/20/2013)


    Hi, mickyT!

    Your method only works if the number of rows is a multiple of 5. Try and remove the ('J',1) and your bottom 20 per cent has only one record.

    True .. but with more records in the result sets and a higher NTILE value, this could be refined. The other problem with this is that it will pretty much do only percentages rather than number of records.

    RANK could also be used for this with a little effort

    WITH cte AS (

    SELECT Name, Quantity,

    RANK() OVER (ORDER BY Quantity DESC) TopRank,

    RANK() OVER (ORDER BY Quantity ASC) BottomRank,

    COUNT(*) OVER (ORDER BY Quantity) / 2 Midpoint

    FROM Books

    )

    SELECT Name, Quantity, TopRank,

    CASE WHEN TopRank <= 100 THEN 'Best Seller'

    WHEN BottomRank <= 100 THEN 'Worst Seller'

    ELSE 'Average Seller'

    END

    FROM cte

    WHERE TopRank <= 100 or

    BottomRank <= 100 or

    TopRank between Midpoint - 50 and Midpoint + 50

    Unfortunately I can't test and refine this at the moment, so there may be some quirks (errors:w00t:) I can't envisage.

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