To avoid aggregates you can : delete from table t where not exists (select null from table x where t.USER_ID=x.USER_ID and t.CREATED > x.CREATED);
it seems to run faster given the USER_ID and CREATED are indexed -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 1:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Hi, Can anyone help me with this delete statement? I have the following table: Name Null? Type ----------------------------------------- -------- ------------- USER_ID NOT NULL NUMBER(15) PASSWORD VARCHAR2(30) CREATED DATE What I need to do is delete the oldest record for a particular user_id. And its doing my head in. Any help appreciated! Thanks, Steve. -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Steven Hovington INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Vadim Gorbounov INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).