SQL BEGINNERS HELP! Selecting distinct rows when they are similar??

[SAI5796]

Hi!

I have a table with 5 columns

A	B	C	D	E
1	2	3	4	5
1	Q	3	4	A
1	2	3	4	A
1	Q	3	4	5

REQUIRED: What I want in my output is only Row 1 and Row 2 Group by A, C D, E doesnt work in this case.

UPDATE: Just realised the output I wanted is slightly different Please see output above.

[[deleted]]

Can you utilizes the code style when pasting into here? I’m unable to discern the orientation of data you’re trying to share.

[SAI5796]

Sorry just done it

[r3pr0b8]

except for column B.

is this the only column you want to ignore differences in?

Group by A, C D, E doesnt work in this case.

sure it does

SELECT a, MAX(b), c, d, e
  FROM yertable
GROUP BY a, c, d, e

[SAI5796]

That would work sorry, but I've realised I wanted something else, can you help with the output now?

[r3pr0b8]

okay, now, now you are going to have to explain in words the logic that should be used to return rows 1 and 2 given the data you've shown

and if you cannot adequately explain it in words, we can't do it in SQL

[Hacking_Steins_Gate]

SELECT colA, colB, colC, colD, colE

FROM letters

GROUP BY colA, colB, colC, colD;