Tricky SQL Problem: Top "n" of queried records

How can I restrict the result of a SQL query to, say, the top 10 regarding some defined order criteria, e.g.

SELECT deptno, sum(salary) FROM emp
GROUP BY deptno
<ONLY the top 3 w/regards to sum(salary)>;

I do *not* want the client application to fetch only the first three records, I want the Server to retrieve exactly these rows.

I have a rather quirky solution using a multiply nested subquery (one nesting level per "n" in the topic!)

The problem is in fact a general one and I seem to have read a solution somewhere but forgot the source ;-(

-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading Received on Tue Mar 17 1998 - 00:00:00 CST