selecting first and last records from a result set

This depends largely from the database system you are using. Anyway, when you say "first" and "last", you also need to specify the "ordering".

Here is the suggestion for SQL Server:
select top 10 * from yourtable order by somefield asc
union all
select top 10 * from yourtable order by somefield desc

or
set rowcount 10
select * from yourtable order by somefield asc
union all
select * from yourtable order by somefield desc
set rowcount 0

CHeers

I have tried these two already.
SOrry forgot to mention my datbaase is oracle and i am trying it from sqlplus.
select top 10 * from <table>;
select top 10 * from <table>
           *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00923: FROM keyword not found where expected


set rowcount 10
SP2-0158: unknown SET option "rowcount"

Check out this:

select * from yourtable where rownum <=10 order by somefield asc

select * from yourtable where rownum <=10 order by somefield desc

!!!! UNTESTED !!!!

k_suchdeva,
   As long as you are on Oracle 8i or later, you can use the analytic functions (angelll's solution won't work since rownum is assigned prior to the sort):

Top 10:
select * from
  (select <blah column 1>, <blah column 2>, <etc.>,
          row_number() over (order by <blah col 1>,
                                           <blah col2>) ranking
     from <blah blah>)
 where ranking <= 10;

Bottom 10 (just reverse the order by):
select * from
  (select <blah column 1>, <blah column 2>, <etc.>,
          row_number() over (order by <blah col 1> desc,
                                           <blah col2> desc) ranking
     from <blah blah>)
 where ranking <= 10;

you can also sort the whole thing (takes longer) instead of using these functions, and put it in an inline view:

select * from (select * from <blah blah> order by <blah columns>)
 where rownum <= 10;

and the reverse (putting desc on the columns in the order by) for the bottom 10.

Good luck!

Strangely

select * from mr_orders where rownum <=1;
works
while
select * from mr_orders where ranking <=1;
does not

So who wants the points ?

Hi DrSQL
Got it !!
This is one thing i love so much about this site.

People are just passionate about explaining the problem and you get you get exactly the answer you want.

Thanks for ur effort.