Function Reference > Functions > MIN (Dates)
  

MIN (Dates)

Returns the earliest date found in a field or group. You can apply a filter to limit the rows in the search. You can also use MIN to return the smallest numeric value or the lowest string value in a field or group.
You can nest only one other aggregate function within MIN, and the nested function must return a date data type. You cannot nest aggregate functions in advanced mode.
Use only in mapping tasks.

Syntax

MIN( date [, filter_condition] )
Argument
Required/
Optional
Description
date
Required
Date/time data type. Passes the values for which you want to return minimum value. You can enter any valid transformation expression.
filter_condition
Optional
Limits the rows in the search. The filter condition must be a numeric value or evaluate to TRUE, FALSE, or NULL. You can enter any valid transformation expression.

Return Value

Date if the value argument is a date.
NULL if all values passed to the function are NULL, or if no rows are selected (for example, the filter condition evaluates to FALSE or NULL for all rows).

Nulls

If a single value is NULL, MIN ignores it. However, if all values passed from the field are NULL, MIN returns NULL.

Group By

MIN groups values based on group by fields you define in the transformation, returning one result for each group.
If there is no group by field, MIN treats all rows as one group, returning one value.

Example

The following expression returns the oldest order date for flashlights:
MIN( ORDER_DATE, ITEM_NAME='Flashlight' )
ITEM_NAME
ORDER_DATE
Flashlight
Apr 20 1998
Regulator System
May 15 1998
Flashlight
Sep 21 1998
Diving Hood
Aug 18 1998
Halogen Flashlight
Feb 1 1998
Flashlight
Oct 10 1998
Flashlight
NULL
RETURN VALUE: Feb 1 1998