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Reply-To: ashok@kalculate.com
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From: "ashok@kalculate.com" <ashok@kalculate.com>
To: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: a wierd query
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 04:07:08 -0400
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hi=20

i have a wierd problem and i require an equally weird query.
1) backgound
  Table test:
    CREATE TABLE main_table (
               string_A varchar( 20),
               string_B varchar( 20),
               );
     -- both columns are identical in nature and usage
     INSERT INTO main_table VALUES('abcd','qrst');
     INSERT INTO main_table VALUES('efgh','efgh');
     INSERT INTO main_table VALUES('ijkl','abcd');
     INSERT INTO main_table VALUES('abcd','ijkl');
     INSERT INTO main_table VALUES('qrst','uvwx');

2) problem:
=20=20=20
     i require a query that gives me a result set of the form

   'abcd'
   'efgh'
   'ijkl'
   'qrst'
   'uvwx'

   that is i require the dictinct values from (visualizing each column
result as a set) the union of the two columns

3) questions

   a) is a query like this possible that can give me the desired result
   b) if so what would it be.

4) remarks
=20=20=20
    i can get the solution using a temporary table and with repeated
      "insert into temporary select $column from main_table"


thanks in advance

ashok

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