From: rdm32@dana.ucc.nau.edu (Ryan McLean)
Newsgroups: comp.databases.oracle
Subject: Should be a simple query, please help a desperate person at the end of their pitiful rope.
Date: 5 Jun 2003 16:45:35 -0700
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I am trying to return one of two records.  The most recend one . . .
why does this not work?

SELECT * 
FROM PARKING_SERVICES_ADM.VEHICLE_INFO 
WHERE RES_PERSON_ID = '8675309' 
AND ROWNUM < 2 
ORDER BY PERMIT_PURCHASE_DATE DESC;

This should be an easy answer . . . thank you in advance for any help.

Thanks, 

Ryan

p.s. the result is the other (wrong) record.  This record has an older
PERMIT_PURCHASE_DATE, I thought the query above would return the
latest record according to the PERMIT_PURCHASE_DATE field.  If I
change the rownum < 2 to rownum < 3, I get the correct order of the
rwo records.

Thanks again!