Q213173: SMS: Error When Using DISTINCT Keyword Inside Count Query in WQL

Article: Q213173
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): 2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsms200preSP4fix
Last Modified: 09-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you use the DISTINCT keyword inside of the COUNT function in a Web-Based
Enterprise Management (WBEM) Query Language (WQL) query, an error message
appears and it fails to run.

For example, if you run the following WQL query:

  SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT CollectionID) from SMS_Collection

the following error message appears:

  Failed to parse WQL stringSELECT COUNT(DISTINCT CollectionID) FROM
  SMS_Collection

The query should return a generic object with the number of collections as a
property.

WORKAROUND
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Systems Management
Server version 2.0. For additional information, please see the following article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q288239 SMS: How to Obtain the Latest Systems Management Server 2.0 Service
  Pack

Using the same example, run the following query:

  SELECT DISTINCT CollectionID from SMS_Collection

If you are doing this programmatically use the appropriate API. If you are using
WBEMTEST, the number of objects are returned in the Query Result window.


Additional query words: prodsms smssql wql query

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Keywords          : kbsms200preSP4fix 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200
Version           : :2.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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