Counting Different Entries in one Field


The following application will give you a count of unique entries that have 
been made to a single field in a database.  For example, you may have 1500 
records with names and addresses and you would like to know how many different 
states are represented.  You may want to know how many various zip codes you 
are sending a mailer to in order to get bulk postage rates.

The fields and data shown in the following example are from the sample 
database  EMPLOYEE.DTF.

On the Column/Sort spec number the field whose unique entries you would like 
to count.  This may be your state, zip or country field.  Any field formatted 
as text will work.

COL/SORT SPEC:

Department: 10,AS

On the Derived Column Spec you would want to enter the columns as 
shown below.  The heading of the first column will not print and it 
can be left blank.  It has been named here to help clarify the 
programming explanation.  The heading of the second column should 
reflect what you would like to see on the report.

DERIVED COLUMN SPEC:

Heading: Invisible repeat of Department
Formula: #10
Column Spec: 50,I

Heading: Departments
Formula: @Text(#10<>#50,#10)
Column Spec: 20,C

The Report in the Employee database would appears at the bottom of the page.  
Here we have asked for a listing and count of the various departments in the 
company.  **Note: If you do not wish to the complete list of entries, simply 
set 'Print Totals Only' on the Print Options Screen to 'YES'.


         Departments
         -----------
         ACCNT
         ADMIN
         EXEC
         LEGAL
         OPS
         PROMO
         R&D
         SALES
         ===========
 Count:            8




Q & A Application Note       Rev. 6/92           #2203     Page 1 of 1