Select the first row in a join of two tables in one statement

Question

I need to select only the first row from a query that joins tables A and B. On table B exist multiple records with same name. There are not identifiers in any of the two tab

Answer 1

SELECT  A.NAME, bb.DATA1, bb.DATA2 
From A Inner Join B on A.NAME = B.NAME
WHERE B.DATA1 = (SELECT MIN(DATA1) FROM B WHERE NAME = A.NAME)

This will give your desired result, providing B.DATA1 values are unique within the set relating to table A.

If they're not unique, the only other way I know is using CROSS APPLY in MSSQL 2005 and above.