[SOLVED] Retreiving non-repeating data

[Errant_Shadow]

MySQL Server Version: 5.1.30

 

Here's my problem: I'm querying my database through php to give flash a big ole list of automobile manufacturers that my site currently advertises (rather than just listing EVERY possible manufacturer). But since we might have two cars made by the same company, and since I'm using this data to populate a drop-down box, I don't want the data to have repeated values.

 

Let's say we've got 10 ads on the site, 1 of them are Fords, 2 of them are Chevys, 3 of them are Mercedes, and 4 of them are Hondas. I need it to return Ford, Chevy, Mercedes, and Honda. Am I just going to have to parse the data once it's in php, or is there a way to query for this?

[kickstart]

Hi

 

SELECT DISTINCT carMaker

FROM tableOfCars

 

Or if you want the counts (maybe to have a list in number of cars order).

 

SELECT carMaker, COUNT(*)

FROM tableOfCars

GROUP BY carMaker

 

All the best

 

Keith

[Errant_Shadow]

Thank you.