LARGEST


The LARGEST function returns the largest value of an expression. You can use this function to compare numeric values or date values.

Return Value

The data type of the expression. It can be INTEGER, LONGINT, DECIMAL, or DATE.

Syntax

LARGEST(expression [dimensions])

Arguments

expression

The expression whose largest value is to be returned.

dimensions

The dimensions of the result. By default, LARGEST returns a single value. When you indicate one or more dimensions for the results, LARGEST calculates the largest value along the dimensions that are specified and returns an array of values. Each dimension must be either a dimension of expression or related to one of its dimensions. When it is a related dimension, you can specify the name of the relation instead of the dimension name. This enables you to choose which relation is used when there is more than one.

Notes

NA Values and LARGEST

LARGEST is affected by the NASKIP option in the same manner as other aggregate functions. When NASKIP is set to YES (the default), LARGEST ignores NA values and returns the largest value or values that are not NA. When NASKIP is set to NO, LARGEST returns NA when any value of the expression is NA. When all the values of the expression are NA, LARGEST returns NA for either setting of NASKIP.

Using LARGEST With an Expression Dimensioned by a DWMQY Dimension

When expression is dimensioned by a dimension of type DAY, WEEK, MONTH, QUARTER, or YEAR, you can specify any other DAY, WEEK, MONTH, QUARTER, or YEAR dimension as a related dimension. Oracle OLAP uses the implicit relation between the dimensions. To control the mapping of one DAY, WEEK, MONTH, QUARTER, or YEAR dimension to another (for example, from weeks to months), you can define an explicit relation between the two dimensions and specify the name of the relation as the dimension argument to the LARGEST function.

For each time period in the related dimension, Oracle OLAP finds the largest data value in any source time period that ends in the target time period. This method is used regardless of which dimension has the more aggregate periods.

Examples

Finding the Largest Monthly Sales

This example uses the LARGEST function to find the largest monthly sportswear sales for each district during the first half of 1996. To see the largest sales figure for each district, specify district as the dimension of the results.

LIMIT product TO 'Sportswear'
LIMIT month TO 'Jan96' TO 'Jun96'
REPORT HEADING 'Largest Sales' LARGEST(sales district)

The preceding statements produce the following output.

                Largest
DISTRICT         Sales
-------------- ----------
Boston          79,630.20
Atlanta        177,967.49
Chicago        112,792.78
Dallas         175,716.31
Denver          97,236.88
Seattle         60,322.88