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Returns the smallest value in the specified column.

MIN([ALL] column_reference | DISTINCT column_reference)

Description

Use MIN to calculate the smallest value (column, literal, parameter, or caculated values) using a dataset. The dataset may be the entire table, a filtered dataset, or a logical group produced by a GROUP BY clause. Column values of zero are included in the aggregation. NULL column values are not counted in the calculation. If the number of qualifying rows is zero, MIN returns a NULL value.

SELECT MIN(ItemsTotal)

FROM Orders

Constant values (such as literals and parameter values) can only be used with the MIN function if part of a calculation involving a table column. If MIN is applied to a calculation, the calculation is performed for each row and then the minimum value calculated based on the data as modified by the calculation.

SELECT MAX(UPPER(LastName))

FROM "Employee.db"

ALL returns the smallest value for all rows. When DISTINCT is not specified, ALL is the implied default.

DISTINCT ignores duplicate values when calculating the smallest value in the specified column.

MIN returns the smallest value in a column or a calculation using a column performed for each row (a calculated field).

SELECT MIN(ItemsTotal), MIN(ItemsTotal * 0.0825) AS LowestTax

FROM Orders

When used with a GROUP BY clause, MIN returns one row for each group with the minimum value for that group. The statement below aggregates the smallest value for the order totals column in the Orders table, producing a subtotal for each company in the Company table.

SELECT C."Company", AVG(O."ItemsTotal") AS Average,

 MAX(O."ItemsTotal") AS Biggest,

 MIN(O."ItemsTotal") AS Smallest

FROM "Customer.db" C, "Orders.db" O

WHERE (C."CustNo" = O."CustNo")

GROUP BY C."Company"

ORDER BY C."Company"

Applicability

SELECT statements. MIN can be used with all non-BLOB columns. When used with numeric columns, the return value is of the same type as the column (such as INTEGER or FLOAT). When used with a CHAR column, the smallest value returned will depend on the Borland Database Engine (BDE) language driver used.

Note: the MIN function cannot be used with memo or BLOB columns.