Question

For each distinct Name, I want to select the first three rows with the earliest time_stamp (or smallest number in UNIXTIME). What is the correct query?

Start Table:

Name         Log-in Time
--------     -----------------
Don          05:30:00
Don          05:35:32
Don          07:12:43
Don          09:52:23
Don          05:32:43
James        03:30:00
James        03:54:23
James        09:51:54
James        14:43:34
James        43:22:11
James        59:43:33
James        20:12:11
Mindy        05:32:22
Mindy        15:14:44
Caroline     10:02:22
Rebecca      20:43:32

End Table:

Name         Log-in Time
--------     -----------------
Don          05:30:00
Don          05:35:32
Don          07:12:43
James        03:30:00
James        03:54:23
James        09:51:54
Mindy        05:32:22
Mindy        15:14:44
Caroline     10:02:22
Rebecca      20:43:32

Answer 1

WITH Table (Name, LoginTime, Row) AS
(
    SELECT 
       Name,
       LoginTime,
       ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY Name ORDER BY LoginTime)
    FROM SomeTable
)
SELECT 
   Name,
   LoginTime
FROM Table
WHERE 
   Row <= 3