Hi, I need somebody help with a SQL; I have a course_schedule table which has id number, course varchar2(20), start_time date, end_time date Here is some data NUMB COURSE START_NEW END_NEW ==== ==== ======= =================== =================== 1 1191 EDU*140 2004-05-01 09:00:00 2004-05-01 12:00:00 2 1192 EDU*210 2004-05-01 08:00:00 2004-05-01 09:35:00 3 1194 EDU*213 2004-05-01 18:00:00 2004-05-01 21:00:00 4 1195 EDU*225 2004-05-01 09:35:00 2004-05-01 11:00:00 5 1196 EDU*225 2004-05-01 11:10:00 2004-05-01 12:35:00 6 1198 EDU*226 2004-05-01 14:20:00 2004-05-01 17:35:00 7 1199 EDU*226 2004-05-01 19:00:00 2004-05-01 22:15:00 8 1201 EDU*228 2004-05-01 19:00:00 2004-05-01 22:15:00 9 1204 EDU*233 2004-05-01 19:00:00 2004-05-01 22:15:00 10 1205 EDU*250 2004-05-01 09:00:00 2004-05-01 12:00:00 11 1211 ENG*010 2004-05-01 08:00:00 2004-05-01 08:55:00 12 1212 ENG*010 2004-05-01 12:45:00 2004-05-01 14:10:00 13 1213 ENG*010 2004-05-01 19:00:00 2004-05-01 22:15:00 14 1216 ENG*011 2004-05-01 08:00:00 2004-05-01 08:55:00 15 1217 ENG*011 2004-05-01 09:05:00 2004-05-01 10:00:00 16 1218 ENG*011 2004-05-01 09:05:00 2004-05-01 10:00:00 17 1219 ENG*011 2004-05-01 10:10:00 2004-05-01 11:05:00 18 1220 ENG*011 2004-05-01 10:10:00 2004-05-01 11:05:00 19 1221 ENG*011 2004-05-01 11:15:00 2004-05-01 12:10:00 what I need is a SQL which can give me non overlapping course schedules for a given set of courses, giving alphabetical priority to courses. For example for a given set of courses EDU*140, ENG*010, ENG*011 ENG*010 2004-05-01 08:00:00 2004-05-01 08:55:00 EDU*140 2004-05-01 09:00:00 2004-05-01 12:00:00 ENG*010 2004-05-01 12:45:00 2004-05-01 14:10:00 ENG*010 2004-05-01 19:00:00 2004-05-01 22:15:00 I can not come up with any ideas, can some body please help? Thanks for any ideas/help Deen ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------