can't select unique records based on multiple criteria

Question

I have an Excel sheet report formatted like this:

+----------+--------+-------------+
|   file   | column | columnIndex |
+----------+--------+-------------+
| abc.xlsx | test   |          14 |
| def.xlsx | test   |          55 |
| abc.xlsx | xyz    |          19 |
| def.xlsx | xyz    |          19 |
+----------+--------+-------------+

I'm trying to query it with ADODB so that I can get the unique pairs of column and columnIndex values where column is not blank.

I have tried various queries but each one has given me an error.

SELECT [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
from [report$] group by [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
having [report$].column<>''
ORDER BY columnIndex

gives this error:

No value given for one or more required parameters.

This query:

select [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
from [report$] group by [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
where [report$].column<>'' 
order by columnIndex 

gives this error:

Syntax error (missing operator) in query expression '[report$].columnIndex where [report$].column<>'''.

This query:

select distinct [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
from [report$] 
where [report$].column<>'' 
order by columnIndex 

gives this error:

ORDER BY clause (columnIndex) conflicts with DISTINCT.

How can I write this query to get the unique values?

Answer 1

• WHERE goes before GROUP BY

• <> is an equivalent to != so you should pass value to compare your [report$].column with.

• Probably the reason for No value given for one or more required parameters. is a misspelled field name.

For example :

WHERE [report$].column <> '' 
GROUP BY [report$].column,[report$].columnIndex 
ORDER BY [report$].columnIndex