SQL Oracle rownum on multiple where clauses?

Question

select * from MYTABLE t 
where EQUIPMENT = 'KEYBOARD' and ROWNUM <= 2 or
EQUIPMENT = 'MOUSE' and ROWNUM <= 2 or
EQUIPMENT = 'MONITOR' and ROWNUM <= 2; 

I am trying to run a query that returns matches on a field (ie equipment) and limits the output of each type of equipment to 2 records or less per equipment type.. I know this probably not the best way to use multiple where clauses but i have used this in the past separated by or statements but does not work with rownum. It seems it is only returning the very last where statement. thanks in advance..

Answer 1

The Row count can be specific to every Equipment type!

SELECT * FROM MYTABLE t 
where EQUIPMENT = 'KEYBOARD' and ROWNUM <= 2 
UNION ALL
SELECT * FROM MYTABLE t
WHERE EQUIPMENT = 'MOUSE' and ROWNUM <= 2
UNION ALL
SELECT * FROM MYTABLE t
WHERE EQUIPMENT = 'MONITOR' and ROWNUM <= 2; 

Answer 2

WITH numbered_equipment AS (
  SELECT t.*,
         ROW_NUMBER() OVER( PARTITION BY EQUIPMENT ORDER BY NULL ) AS row_num
  FROM   MYTABLE t 
  WHERE  EQUIPMENT IN ( 'KEYBOARD', 'MOUSE', 'MONITOR' )
)
SELECT *
FROM   numbered_equipment
WHERE  row_num <= 2;

SQLFIDDLE

If you want to prioritize which rows are selected based on other columns then modify the ORDER BY NULL part of the query to put the highest priority elements first in the order.

Edit

To just pull out rows where the equipment matches and the status is active then use:

WITH numbered_equipment AS (
  SELECT t.*,
         ROW_NUMBER() OVER( PARTITION BY EQUIPMENT ORDER BY NULL ) AS row_num
  FROM   MYTABLE t 
  WHERE  EQUIPMENT IN ( 'KEYBOARD', 'MOUSE', 'MONITOR' )
  AND    STATUS = 'Active'
)
SELECT *
FROM   numbered_equipment
WHERE  row_num <= 2;

SQLFIDDLE