Using QMF

MIN. -- Calculate the minimum value

The MIN. column function returns the smallest value in the group of numbers or characters in a specified column. You can apply MIN. to columns of any type.

If MIN. is applied to a CHAR or VARCHAR type column, alphanumeric ordering is used.

• The number 9 is greater than 8, and so on, to 0 (zero).
• Zero is greater than the uppercase Z, which is greater than Y, and so on, to A.
• A is greater than the lowercase z, which is greater than y, and so on, to a.
• Lowercase a is greater than the special characters.

QMF ignores null values when searching for the minimum. If all values specified in a column are null, QMF returns no value.

You can use an example element with MIN. to select the minimum years of employment for employees in the Q.STAFF table.

When you run this query:

Q.STAFF | NAME    | DEPT | YEARS |            |
--------+---------+------+-------+------------|
        |         |      | _Y    | P. MIN. _Y |

QMF produces this report:

MIN(YEARS)
----------
         1

Rules for MIN.

• You can follow MIN. with an example element or an arithmetic expression that contains at least one example element.
• In an unnamed column, specify MIN. with the example element that identifies the column from which the smallest value is to be retrieved. This example element also appears in the column that contains the value to retrieve.
• When you apply MIN. to a column named in an example table, you must apply a column function (AVG., SUM., MIN., MAX., COUNT.), or the G. (group) operator to every other column to select.