Analytics SAQL Developer Guide

Overview
Quick Start
Examples
SAQL Reference
SAQL Basic Elements
SAQL Operators
SAQL Statements
SAQL Functions
Aggregate Functions
avg() or average()
count()
first()
last()
max()
median()
min()
sum()
unique()
stddev()
stddevp()
var()
varp()
percentile_cont()
percentile_disc()
regr_intercept()
regr_slope()
regr_r2()
grouping()
Date Functions
Time Zone Date Functions
Work with Custom Fiscal Year Data
String Functions
Math Functions
Windowing Functions
coalesce
Query Performance
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first()

Returns the first value for the specified field.

Use first() to return the first value of a measure or dimension. You can also use first() used to return the value of a field without grouping by that field.

If the values are not sorted, the 'first' value could be any value in the tuple.

Note

Example - Return the First Industry for an Account Owner

Your reps own opportunities in several industries. You need a list of rep names with their first industry, where industry is sorted alphabetically. Group by account owner and industry, sort by industry, then use first() to get the first industry.

1q = load "DTC_Opportunity_SAMPLE";
2q = group q by ('Account_Owner', 'Industry');
3q = foreach q generate 'Account_Owner' as 'Account_Owner', 'Industry' as 'Industry';
4q = order q by 'Industry';
5
6q = foreach q generate 'Account_Owner' as 'Account_Owner', first('Industry') as 'One Industry';

Diagram showing first function with sorted field.

Example - Return Any Industry for an Account Owner

Your reps own opportunities in several industries. You need a list of rep names with any one of a rep's industry - it doesn't matter which one. In this case. Group by account owner then use first() to get the first industry from an unsorted collection.
1q = load "DTC_Opportunity_SAMPLE";
2q = group q by 'Account_Owner';
3q = foreach q generate 'Account_Owner' as 'Account_Owner', first('Industry') as 'One Industry';

The resulting table displays each rep along with one of their industries (basically the first industry from an unsorted collection).

Diagram showing first function.