Home Forums Programming General get set of random rows with distinct values RE: get set of random rows with distinct values

  • A randomly-selected work from a number of randomly-selected authors:

    SELECT

    WORKID,

    AUTHORID

    FROM (

    SELECT TOP 10

    AUTHORID

    FROM dbo.LITERARYWORKS

    GROUP BY MASTNUM

    ORDER BY NEWID()

    ) at

    CROSS APPLY (

    SELECT TOP 1

    WORKID

    FROM dbo.LITERARYWORKS

    WHERE AUTHORID = at.AUTHORID

    ORDER BY NEWID()

    ) MyAlias

    “Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw

    For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
    Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
    Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden