Specifications

CHAPTER 24 DataWindow Expression and InfoMaker Functions
Users Guide 681
First
Description Reports the value in the first row in the specified column.
Syntax First ( column { FOR range { DISTINCT { expresn {, expres2 {, ... } } } } } )
Return value
The datatype of the column. Returns the value in the first row of column. If you
specify range,
First returns the value of the first row in column in range.
Usage If you specify range, First determines the value of the first row in column in
range. If you specify DISTINCT,
First returns the first distinct value in column,
or if you specify expresn, the first distinct value in column where the value of
expresn is distinct.
For most presentation styles, values for range are:
• ALL
– (Default) The value in the first of all rows in column.
• GROUP n
– The value in the first of rows in column in the specified group.
Specify the keyword GROUP followed by the group number: for example,
GROUP 1.
• PAGE
– The value in the first of the rows in column on a page.
For Crosstabs, specify CROSSTAB for range to indicate the first of all rows in
column in the crosstab.
For Graphs specify GRAPH and for OLE objects specify OBJECT for range,
to indicate the value in the first row in column in the range specified for the
Rows option.
Argument Description
column The column for which you want the value of the first row. Column
can be a column name or a column number preceded by a pound
sign (#). Column can also be an expression that includes a reference
to the column.
FOR range
(optional)
The data that will be included when the value in the first row is
found. Values for range depend on the presentation style. See the
Usage section for more information.
DISTINCT
(optional)
Causes
First to consider only the distinct values in column when
determining the first value. For a value of column, the first row
found with the value is used and other rows that have the same value
are ignored.
expresn
(optional)
One or more expressions that you want to evaluate to determine
distinct rows. Expresn can be the name of a column, a function, or
an expression.