MySQL: select top result in a group of distinct(char_length(text_column)) records -

i have group of records these following notional results. there multiple occurrences number in count column repeated. 'count' comes char_length(text_column). want grab first record in each such grouping. how do this?

i've looked @ char_length() documentation , searched examples has been done, can't find anything.

select distinct(char_length(text_column)), text_column table 

.... close -- not close -- i've been able result.

=======+============================  count +      text_column =======+============================ 2139   + text entry -------+---------------------------- 3000   + sentence here -------+---------------------------- 3000   + more text in sentence -------+---------------------------- 3000   + still more text here -------+---------------------------- 

thank you, bw

there no such thing "first" unless column specifies ordering. can, however, value indeterminate row using group by:

select char_length(text_column), text_column table group char_length(text_column); 

i'm not big fan of using mysql extension group by text_column allowed in select, not group by. however, because long column, might more efficient let mysql pick value rather using actual aggregation function (such min() or max()).