How do I get the last or maximum value /

Question

Hi all,
I got the following query output :-
ITEM_______DATE____________PRICE
AAA_______01/11/04__________2.5
AAA_______22/04/05__________4.0
BBB_______04/08/05__________44
BBB_______05/08/05__________45
CCC_______04/12/04__________12
CCC_______05/05/05__________90
I want to get the output of the last date, I'm try to use max(date), however, b'cos of the diff price the records still show. I just need the output of the last date, output will be something like below :-
ITEM_______DATE____________PRICE
AAA_______22/04/05__________4.0
BBB_______05/08/05__________45
CCC_______05/05/05__________90
How should I code ?
Rgds
Lim

Answer 1

SQL> drop table test_data
  2  /
drop table test_data
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00942: table or view does not exist
SQL> create table test_data
  2  (item       varchar2(32)
  3  ,item_date  date
  4  ,price      number)
  5  /
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> insert into test_Data values('AAA', to_Date('01/11/04', 'dd/mm/yy'),2.5)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test_Data values('AAA', to_Date('22/04/05', 'dd/mm/yy'),4.0)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test_Data values('BBB', to_Date('04/08/05', 'dd/mm/yy'),44)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test_Data values('BBB', to_Date('05/08/05', 'dd/mm/yy'),45)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test_Data values('CCC', to_Date('04/12/04', 'dd/mm/yy'),12)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test_Data values('CCC', to_Date('05/05/05', 'dd/mm/yy'),90)
  2  /
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL> select * from test_Data
  2  /
ITEM                             ITEM_DATE      PRICE                                              
AAA                              01-NOV-04        2.5                                              
AAA                              22-APR-05          4                                              
BBB                              04-AUG-05         44                                              
BBB                              05-AUG-05         45                                              
CCC                              04-DEC-04         12                                              
CCC                              05-MAY-05         90                                              
6 rows selected.
SQL>
SQL> select * from test_data
  2  where (item_date, item) in
  3  (select max(item_date) item_date, item from test_Data group by item)
  4  /
ITEM                             ITEM_DATE      PRICE                                              
AAA                              22-APR-05          4                                              
CCC                              05-MAY-05         90                                              
BBB                              05-AUG-05         45