What is the best way to retrieve distinct / unique values using SPQuery?

Question

I have a list that looks like:

Movie          Year
-----          ----
Fight Club     1999
The Matrix     1999
Pulp Fiction   1994

Using CA

Answer 1

Can you switch from SPQuery to SPSiteDataQuery? You should be able to, without any problems.

After that, you can use standard ado.net behaviour:

SPSiteDataQuery query = new SPSiteDataQuery();
/// ... populate your query here. Make sure you add Year to the ViewFields.

DataTable table = SPContext.Current.Web.GetSiteData(query);

//create a new dataview for our table
DataView view = new DataView(table);

//and finally create a new datatable with unique values on the columns specified

DataTable tableUnique = view.ToTable(true, "Year");