see employee rows in order of salary

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        

14 rows selected.

see employee rows in order of hiredate

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        

14 rows selected.

can order these employee last names by salary without projecting
those salaries:

EMPL_LAST_NAME                                                                  
---------------                                                                 
Smith                                                                           
James                                                                           
Adams                                                                           
Martin                                                                          
Ward                                                                            
Miller                                                                          
Turner                                                                          
Michaels                                                                        
Raimi                                                                           
Blake                                                                           
Jones                                                                           

EMPL_LAST_NAME                                                                  
---------------                                                                 
Scott                                                                           
Ford                                                                            
King                                                                            

14 rows selected.

see the salaries and last names just of those with job title
of Manager, in order of their last names:

    SALARY EMPL_LAST_NAME                                                       
---------- ---------------                                                      
      2850 Blake                                                                
      2975 Jones                                                                
      2450 Raimi                                                                

employee last name, job title, mgr, and hiredate
in order of job title:

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91                                       
Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91                                       
Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90                                       
Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92                                       
Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91                                       
James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91                                       
Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91                                       
Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91                                       
Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91                                       
King            President       17-NOV-91                                       
Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91                                       

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91                                       
Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91                                       
Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91                                       

14 rows selected.

employee last name, job title, mgr, and hiredate
in order of job title,
and for those with the same job title, in order
of mgr value:

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91                                       
Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91                                       
James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91                                       
Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92                                       
Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91                                       
Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90                                       
Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91                                       
Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91                                       
Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91                                       
King            President       17-NOV-91                                       
Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91                                       

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91                                       
Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91                                       
Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91                                       

14 rows selected.

employee last name, job title, mgr, and hiredate
in order of job title,
and for those with the same job title, in order
of mgr value,
and for those with the same job title and mgr value,
in order of hiredate:

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91                                       
Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91                                       
James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91                                       
Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92                                       
Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91                                       
Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90                                       
Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91                                       
Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91                                       
Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91                                       
King            President       17-NOV-91                                       
Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91                                       

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE                                        
--------------- ---------- ---- ---------                                       
Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91                                       
Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91                                       
Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91                                       

14 rows selected.

notice what happens with NULL values when order by commission:

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  COMMISSION                                           
--------------- ---------- ----------                                           
Turner          Sales               0                                           
Michaels        Sales             300                                           
Ward            Sales             500                                           
Martin          Sales            1400                                           
Ford            Analyst                                                         
Smith           Clerk                                                           
Miller          Clerk                                                           
Jones           Manager                                                         
Raimi           Manager                                                         
Scott           Analyst                                                         
King            President                                                       

EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  COMMISSION                                           
--------------- ---------- ----------                                           
Adams           Clerk                                                           
James           Clerk                                                           
Blake           Manager                                                         

14 rows selected.

...and when order by mgr value (note where employee King appears):

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        

14 rows selected.

order in descending order of salary:

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        

14 rows selected.

order in descending order of job_title,
and for those with the same job title in
ascending order of mgr number,
and for those with the same job title and mgr
in descending order of hiredate:

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        

14 rows selected.

you get the same result when explicitly giving the default ASC for mgr:

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        

14 rows selected.

display in order of (increasing) salary,
and for those with the same salary, in descending order of hiredate:

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7369 Smith           Clerk      7902 17-DEC-90        800            200        
7900 James           Clerk      7698 03-DEC-91        950            300        
7876 Adams           Clerk      7788 23-SEP-91       1100            400        
7654 Martin          Sales      7698 28-SEP-91       1250       1400 300        
7521 Ward            Sales      7698 22-FEB-91       1250        500 300        
7934 Miller          Clerk      7782 23-JAN-92       1300            100        
7844 Turner          Sales      7698 08-SEP-91       1500          0 300        
7499 Michaels        Sales      7698 20-FEB-91       1600        300 300        
7782 Raimi           Manager    7839 09-JUN-91       2450            100        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        

14 rows selected.

this FAILS, order by in a subselect does not
really make sense
        order by salary)
        *
ERROR at line 7:
ORA-00907: missing right parenthesis 


now properly placing the order by in the outer select,
to display these employees making more than the
lowest-paid manager in order of their salaries

EMPL EMPL_LAST_NAME  JOB_TITLE  MGR  HIREDATE      SALARY COMMISSION DEP        
---- --------------- ---------- ---- --------- ---------- ---------- ---        
7698 Blake           Manager    7839 01-MAY-91       2850            300        
7566 Jones           Manager    7839 02-APR-91       2975            200        
7788 Scott           Analyst    7566 09-NOV-91       3000            200        
7902 Ford            Analyst    7566 03-DEC-91       3000            200        
7839 King            President       17-NOV-91       5000            500        

show the average salary for all employees

AVG(SALARY)                                                                     
-----------                                                                     
 2073.21429                                                                     

show the average salary for those with job title of Manager:

AVG(SALARY)                                                                     
-----------                                                                     
 2758.33333                                                                     

group the selected rows by job_title,
and project the avg salary of each
group

AVG(SALARY)                                                                     
-----------                                                                     
 2758.33333                                                                     
       3000                                                                     
     1037.5                                                                     
       5000                                                                     
       1400                                                                     

group the selected rows by job_title,
and project the job title and the avg salary of each
group (OK since grouping by job_title!):

JOB_TITLE  AVG(SALARY)                                                          
---------- -----------                                                          
Manager     2758.33333                                                          
Analyst           3000                                                          
Clerk           1037.5                                                          
President         5000                                                          
Sales             1400                                                          

FAILS, with group by you CANNOT project
attributes you are not grouping by:
select   job_title, mgr, avg(salary)
                    *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00979: not a GROUP BY expression 


show the dept name and the average salary for those working
in that department:

DEPT_NAME       AVG(SALARY)                                                     
--------------- -----------                                                     
Operations             1100                                                     
Sales            1566.66667                                                     
Accounting             1875                                                     
Research            2443.75                                                     
Management             5000                                                     

FAILS, with GROUP BY you CANNOT project
an attribute NOT being grouped-by
select   d.dept_num, dept_name, avg(salary)
         *
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00979: not a GROUP BY expression 


now grouping by BOTH d.dept_num AND dept_name:

DEP DEPT_NAME       AVG(SALARY)                                                 
--- --------------- -----------                                                 
400 Operations             1100                                                 
300 Sales            1566.66667                                                 
100 Accounting             1875                                                 
200 Research            2443.75                                                 
500 Management             5000                                                 

note that grouping by job title AND mgr value
(so a group is each distinct PAIR of these values):

JOB_TITLE  MGR  AVG(SALARY)   COUNT(*)                                          
---------- ---- ----------- ----------                                          
Analyst    7566        3000          2                                          
Clerk      7782        1300          1                                          
Manager    7839  2758.33333          3                                          
Sales      7698        1400          4                                          
President              5000          1                                          
Clerk      7902         800          1                                          
Clerk      7788        1100          1                                          
Clerk      7698         950          1                                          

8 rows selected.

can have a group by in a sub-select, also
here, project last names and salaries of
employees making >= the minimum of the
average salaries of those in each department:

EMPL_LAST_NAME      SALARY                                                      
--------------- ----------                                                      
King                  5000                                                      
Jones                 2975                                                      
Blake                 2850                                                      
Raimi                 2450                                                      
Ford                  3000                                                      
Michaels              1600                                                      
Ward                  1250                                                      
Martin                1250                                                      
Scott                 3000                                                      
Turner                1500                                                      
Adams                 1100                                                      

EMPL_LAST_NAME      SALARY                                                      
--------------- ----------                                                      
Miller                1300                                                      

12 rows selected.

you can do aggregate computations of the
grouped-by aggregate computations
what is the minimum of the average salaries of
each department?

MIN(AVG(SALARY))                                                                
----------------                                                                
            1100                                                                

project the average salary for each department

DEP AVG(SALARY)                                                                 
--- -----------                                                                 
100        1875                                                                 
200     2443.75                                                                 
300  1566.66667                                                                 
500        5000                                                                 
400        1100                                                                 

project the average salary only for departments whose
average salary is more than 1500:

DEP AVG(SALARY)                                                                 
--- -----------                                                                 
100        1875                                                                 
200     2443.75                                                                 
500        5000                                                                 

this FAILS, you are dealing with ROWS
from the FROM clause in the WHERE clause:
where  avg(salary) > 1600
       *
ERROR at line 3:
ORA-00934: group function is not allowed here