How to get distinct values from a list and display in a ListView webpart.

Question

Hi,
I have a requirement in which I need to pull unique/distinct values from a custom list and then display it via a listview webpart. Can any one suggest how this can be done.
If possible please share the CAMEL query to fetch distinct values from a custom list.
Thanks,
Ankit

Answer 1

Hi Ankit,
Is there any particular reason that the values need to be shown in a list view web part?  Are you going to use that web part for filtering via web part connections?
I ask because the enterprise site collection features include the SharePoint List Filter web part, which may accomplish what you're looking for.
If you just need to display the values in a grid view, you might have more luck with the JavaScript Client Object Model.  Try putting the following in a text file:
<style>
.CustomTableClass{display:table;table-layout:fixed}
.CustomRowClass{display:table-row;}
</style>
<div id="distinct_values_div" class="CustomTableClass">
<img src="/_layouts/loading.gif" />
</div>
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
var siteUrl = '/sitecollection/web'; //use the actual subsite URL here
var listName = 'mylist'; // use the actual list name here
var field = "Title" // use the actual field you want to display here
var divToUpdate = document.getElementById("distinct_values_div");
var rowClass = "CustomRowClass";
ExecuteOrDelayUntilScriptLoaded(function(){
var clientContext = new SP.ClientContext(siteUrl);
var web = clientContext.get_web();
var lists = web.get_lists();
var list = lists.getByTitle(listName);
var camlQuery = new SP.CamlQuery();
camlQuery.set_viewXml('<View><Query></Query><RowLimit>500</RowLimit></View>');
this.collListItem = list.getItems(camlQuery);
clientContext.load(collListItem,"Include ("+field+")");
clientContext.executeQueryAsync(
Function.createDelegate(this, this.onQuerySucceeded),
Function.createDelegate(this, this.onQueryFailed));
},"sp.js");
function onQueryFailed(sender, args){
divToUpdate.innerHTML = 'Unable to retrieve values: '+args.get_message());
function onQuerySucceeded(sender, args){
var allValues = [];
var listItemEnumerator = collListItem.getEnumerator();
divToUpdate.innerHTML = "";
while(listItemEnumerator.moveNext()){
var listItem = listItemEnumerator.get_current();
if(!containsString(allValues,listItem.get_item(field)){
var value = listItem.get_item(field);
allValues.push(value);
var newDiv = document.createElement("div");
newDiv.className = rowClass;
newDiv.innerHTML = value;
divToUpdate.appendChild(newDiv);
function containsString(strArray, text){
var contains = false;
for (var i=0; i<strArray.length; i++){
if(strArray[i]==text){contains = true; break;}
return contains;
</script>
Upload the text file to a library on the site, then add a content editor web part to a page where you want the distinct values to appear. In the content editor web part's properties, edit the Content Link so that it links directly to the text file.  This
will cause the JavaScript to run on the page.