Top x when using Oracle 8i

Question

Hi folks,
The RANK feature looks like it would do what I need, but since I'm not at 9i, it doesn't do me a lot of good. Does anyone have any suggestions for handling the following coding problem:
I have 7.5 million rows in a table with a code, charge_amt, charge_date, vendor#, etc. I need to run through my entire table to sum the charge_amt by code so that I can display just the TOP 50 or 100 of the charges at a group level. Allow me to elaborate:
Here is the SQL I use to group my charges and have them come out in desc order. The problem I am having is limiting the number of rows selected. I was thinking I could do something with the count, but unsure. Can anyone help me out?
SELECT
     SUBMITTED_CODE,
     SUM(CHARGE_AMT_DETAIL) SUM_CHARGE,
     SUM(ALLOWANCE_AMT_DETAIL) SUM_ALLOW,
     COUNT(DISTINCT(SUBMITTED_CODE)) COUNT_OF_WHAT
FROM READ_ONLY.PAYMENT_ANALYSIS
WHERE
PROVIDER_ID_NUM IN ('18072147')
     AND TO_CHAR(SERVICE_DATE, 'YYYYMMDD') >= '20030101'
     AND TO_CHAR(SERVICE_DATE, 'YYYYMMDD') <= '20030106'
GROUP BY SUBMITTED_CODE
ORDER BY SUM_CHARGE DESC, SUBMITTED_CODE
THANKS a bunch for reading this!
Janet

Answer 1

Justin,
Thanks for responding so quickly.
In answer to your first question, we are running 8.1.7.2.
Re: your reply and using rownum, I am encountering a problem. See below for how I inserted the line, but when I do this, I am getting only 50 rows to be included in my selection which is not what I want. I am looking to get the top 50 rows AFTER I have grouped together all of my data in order to figure out the top 50. Does that make any sense?
Thanks! Janet
SELECT
     SUBMITTED_CODE,
     SUM(CHARGE_AMT_DETAIL) SUM_CHARGE,
     SUM(ALLOWANCE_AMT_DETAIL) SUM_ALLOW,
     COUNT(DISTINCT(SUBMITTED_CODE)) COUNT_OF_WHAT
FROM READ_ONLY.PAYMENT_ANALYSIS
WHERE
PROVIDER_ID_NUM IN ('18072147')
     AND TO_CHAR(SERVICE_DATE, 'YYYYMMDD') >= '20030101'
     AND TO_CHAR(SERVICE_DATE, 'YYYYMMDD') <= '20030106'
     AND ROWNUM <50
GROUP BY SUBMITTED_CODE
ORDER BY SUM_CHARGE DESC, SUBMITTED_CODE