# Active-Record Sql: selecting only few columns

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/active-record-sql-selecting-only-few-columns/131678>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [March 12, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/active-record-sql-selecting-only-few-columns/131678 "2008-03-12T13:28:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rajatgarg)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/active-record-sql-selecting-only-few-columns/131678/1 "2008-03-12T13:28:52Z")

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Hi Guys,

I am writing a sql query -  
User.find(:all, :order=\> ‘u.created\_on DESC’, :limit =\>2,  
:joins =\> “as u left join photos p on u.id = p.user\_id”)

But i want this query to return only 3 parameters (name, photo\_url, id)  
instead of all. Is there any ActiveRecord Way of selecting only those  
fields.

I will really appreciate your help.

Thanks

–  
Rajat G.

Ph: 206-499-9495  
Add: 1314 Spring Street, #412  
Seattle, WA 98104  
Web: [http://www.pilotoutlook.com](http://www.pilotoutlook.com)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rajatgarg)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/active-record-sql-selecting-only-few-columns/131678/2 "2008-03-12T13:58:40Z")

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:select should be your friend here.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@rajatgarg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rajatgarg)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/active-record-sql-selecting-only-few-columns/131678/3 "2008-03-12T13:59:16Z")

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On Mar 12, 2008, at 8:27 AM, Rajat G. wrote:

> ## Web: [http://www.pilotoutlook.com](http://www.pilotoutlook.com)
> 
> Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. Landing is the  
> first!

Add a :select =\> ‘name, photo\_url, id’ to your User.find, but be aware  
that it means the User objects will be readonly since they don’t have  
enough information to construct the SQL update command later.

-Rob

Rob B. [http://agileconsultingllc.com](http://agileconsultingllc.com)  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid