MySQL SELECT DISTINCT multiple columns

Question

Let\'s say I have columns a, b c, d in a table in a MySQL database. What I\'m trying to do is to select the distinct values of ALL of these 4 columns in my tabl

Answer 1

Taking a guess at the results you want so maybe this is the query you want then

SELECT DISTINCT a FROM my_table
UNION 
SELECT DISTINCT b FROM my_table
UNION
SELECT DISTINCT c FROM my_table
UNION
SELECT DISTINCT d FROM my_table

Answer 2

Both your queries are correct and should give you the right answer.

I would suggest the following query to troubleshoot your problem.

SELECT DISTINCT a,b,c,d,count(*) Count FROM my_table GROUP BY a,b,c,d
order by count(*) desc

That is add count(*) field. This will give you idea how many rows were eliminated using the group command.

Answer 3

I know that the question is too old, anyway:

select a, b from mytable group by a, b

will give your all the combinations.

Answer 4

This will give DISTINCT values across all the columns:

SELECT DISTINCT value
FROM (
    SELECT DISTINCT a AS value FROM my_table
    UNION SELECT DISTINCT b AS value FROM my_table
    UNION SELECT DISTINCT c AS value FROM my_table
) AS derived

Answer 5

Another simple way to do it is with concat()

SELECT DISTINCT(CONCAT(a,b)) AS cc FROM my_table GROUP BY (cc);

Answer 6

can this help?

select 
(SELECT group_concat(DISTINCT a) FROM my_table) as a,
(SELECT group_concat(DISTINCT b) FROM my_table) as b,
(SELECT group_concat(DISTINCT c) FROM my_table) as c,
(SELECT group_concat(DISTINCT d) FROM my_table) as d