PS Query & SQL

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

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nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

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Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
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Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

Pardon what may be naivety on my part, but I though that if there was no n value that NTH_VALUE returned NULL.  

Tech On the Net:

Returns
The NTH_VALUE function returns the nth value in an ordered set of values from an analytic window.
If there are less than n rows in the data source window, the NTH_VALUE function will return NULL.
If the parameter n is NULL, the NTH_VALUE function returns an error.

Wouldn't NULL <> ' '  return TRUE?

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

Pardon what may be naivety on my part, but I though that if there was no n value that NTH_VALUE returned NULL.  

Tech On the Net:

Returns
The NTH_VALUE function returns the nth value in an ordered set of values from an analytic window.
If there are less than n rows in the data source window, the NTH_VALUE function will return NULL.
If the parameter n is NULL, the NTH_VALUE function returns an error.

Wouldn't NULL <> ' '  return TRUE?

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

David,

Indeed exceeding that fixed value of columns is possible.  It is important to know your data.  So what I did is run queries wide open for each category of award I had to see what were the most columns I would get for each category.  This is also why I created different queries for different categories and used them in a composite query and connected query.

Pardon what may be naivety on my part, but I though that if there was no n value that NTH_VALUE returned NULL.  

Tech On the Net:

Returns
The NTH_VALUE function returns the nth value in an ordered set of values from an analytic window.
If there are less than n rows in the data source window, the NTH_VALUE function will return NULL.
If the parameter n is NULL, the NTH_VALUE function returns an error.

Wouldn't NULL <> ' '  return TRUE?

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

Pardon what may be naivety on my part, but I though that if there was no n value that NTH_VALUE returned NULL.  

Tech On the Net:

Returns
The NTH_VALUE function returns the nth value in an ordered set of values from an analytic window.
If there are less than n rows in the data source window, the NTH_VALUE function will return NULL.
If the parameter n is NULL, the NTH_VALUE function returns an error.

Wouldn't NULL <> ' '  return TRUE?

In my experience, the Key Values of the records are usually the biggest consideration when creating a partition.  Remember that Key Values, from a database standpoint, are what identify unique "rows" of data.  If you were to include all of the keys from all of the records in your partition, you could guarantee unique Nth values.  That said, building your partition that way would (almost certainly) break your "Select Distinct" but partitioning with that in mind helps to understand why something might be both the Nth and N+1th value or not.

incorporating an example would be fantastic ... the difficulty is that we often don't identity that a duplicate will occur, the data does and it is often a surprise that we handle with the select distinct. The key is to make it known/shown when using nth value.

Robert,

Do you think I should add anything to the tutorial? I am open to making changes so everyone can gain additional information. Let me know.

nth value is very useful ... the key is to properly define the partition. There is no distinct nth value and if your data contains duplicate rows and is not properly partitioned nth value 1 will be the same as nth value 2

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------

Thank you for this information!

Can anyone provide an example of when it makes sense to use the Nth value with Student Records, like enrollment or program/plan?

Understanding SQL window functions can greatly improve how we work with datasets, especially when multiple records exist for a single entity, such as students.

I've created a tutorial on using NTH_VALUE, a powerful analytic function that allows you to retrieve the nth record from an ordered partition. While this example is based on financial aid data, the same technique can be applied to any area where multiple rows of data need to be transformed into a single-row format per student.

What's in the tutorial?

• Introduction to NTH_VALUE and how it works
• SQL query example that flattens student grant data
• Step-by-step instructions for PS Query implementation
• Key takeaways for applying NTH_VALUE to different use cases

This function is particularly useful when working with financial aid awards, loans, scholarships, academic records, enrollments, and other student data where multiple entries exist per student.

I've attached the full tutorial as a PDF-feel free to download it and test it out!

If you have questions or want to discuss other SQL window functions that help with student data reporting, drop a comment below! I am always open to updating any documents I have posted if they can be improved. 

------------------------------
Daniel Labrecque
Senior 2 Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
------------------------------

Message from the HEUG Marketplace:
------------------------------
Find, Review, and Engage with Higher Education-focused solution providers, products, and services using the HEUG Marketplace.
------------------------------