I need help with Analytic Function

Question

Hi,
I have this little problem that I need help with.
My datafile has thousands of records that look like...
Client_Id Region Countries
[1] [1] [USA, Canada]
[1] [2] [Australia, France, Germany]
[1] [3] [China, India, Korea]
[1] [4] [Brazil, Mexico]
[8] [1] [USA, Canada]
[9] [1] [USA, Canada]
[9] [4] [Argentina, Brazil]
[13] [1] [USA, Canada]
[15] [1] [USA]
[15] [4] [Argentina, Brazil]
etc
My task is is to create a report with 2 columns - Client_Id and Countries, to look something like...
Client_Id Countries
[1] [USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, China, India, Korea, Brazil, Mexico]
[8] [USA, Canada]
[9] [USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil]
[13] [USA, Canada]
[15] [USA, Argentina, Brazil]
etc.
How can I achieve this using Analytic Function(s)?
Thanks.
BDF

Answer 1

Hi,
That's called String Aggregation , and the following site shows many ways to do it:
http://www.oracle-base.com/articles/10g/StringAggregationTechniques.php
Which one should you use? That depends on which version of Oracle you're using, and your exact requirements.
For example, is order importatn? You said the results shoudl include:
CLIENT_ID  COUNTRIES
1        USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, China, India, Korea, Brazil, Mexicobut would you be equally happy with
CLIENT_ID  COUNTRIES
1        Australia, France, Germany, China, India, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canadaor
CLIENT_ID  COUNTRIES
1        Australia, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, India, Korea?
Mwalimu wrote:
... How can I achieve this using Analytic Function(s)?The best solution may not involve analytic functions at all. Is that okay?
If you'd like help, post your best attempt, a little sample data (CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements), the results you want from that data, and an explanation of how you get those results from that data.
Always say which version of Oracle you're using.
Edited by: Frank Kulash on Aug 29, 2011 3:05 PM