How to avoid repeating fields

Question

Hi,
I have data like this in my tables,
Table1,
ITEM_NO ITEM_MADE
1 A
1 B
2 A
3 A
Table2
ITEM_NO ITEM_GRAM_WT ITEM_METAL_WT
1 12gm 14gm
1 10gm 12gm
2 15gm 21gm
Table3
ITEM_NO ITEM_SIZE ITEM_SHAPE
1 7mgm OVAL
1 9mgm RING
2 3mgm RECT
Table4
ITEM_NO ITEM_ACC_SIZE ITEM_ACC_SHAPE
1 0987 Round
2 8765 Rectangle
Table5
ITEM_NO ITEM_MOVE_CURRLOC ITEM_MOVE_JOBNO
5 jack 6543
Using the below query to retrive the data,
select * from table1 a, table2 b, table3 c, table4 d, table5 e
where a.item_made = 'A'
     and b.item_no(+) = a.item_no
and c.item_no(+) = a.item_no
and d.item_no(+) = a.item_no
and e.item_no(+) = a.item_no
when i'm creating a report with group left format some of the data is repeating, right now i'm adding item_no and item_made as group fields in the report. how can i avoid the repetition and get a good report
thanks for your help
Bcj

Answer 1

Hi Bcj,
First, just wanted to ask if you are really using * in your select statement as opposed to naming each field that you uses? I asked this because, i know it's tidious to type in each and every columns but in this way you don't have to repeat the primary key column (item_no) in your report unless there is a need for you to do it that way, just a thought.
Now, for you question. You should be able to group table 2 the same way as grouping table1. if you have the following field item in your report
         a.item_no,
         a.item_made,
         b.item_gram_wt,
         b.item_metal_wt,
         c.item_size,
         c.item_shape,
         d.item_acc_size,
         d.item_acc_shape,
         e.item_move_currloc,
         e.item_move_jobnoand you said you grouped table1, i assume your data model looks somewhat as follows:
| G_table1            |
| a.item_no,          |
| a.item_made,        |
          |
| G_other             |
| b.item_gram_wt,     |
| b.item_metal_wt,    |
| c.item_size,        |
| c.item_shape,       |
| d.item_acc_size,    |
| d.item_acc_shape,   |
| e.item_move_currloc,|
| e.item_move_jobno   |
-----------------------To group it by table2, you can just drag the columns out of G_others to create another group. Just as follows:
| G_table1            |
| a.item_no,          |
| a.item_made,        |
          |
| G_table2            |
| b.item_gram_wt,     |
| b.item_metal_wt,    |
          |
| G_others            |
| c.item_size,        |
| c.item_shape,       |
| d.item_acc_size,    |
| d.item_acc_shape,   |
| e.item_move_currloc,|
| e.item_move_jobno   |
-----------------------Hope this helps. Let me know if you are still having problem grouping your report. I would also help if you could post a sample of your actual data.
-Marilyn