Django MySQL distinct query for getting multiple values

Question

I have a MySQL database unfortunately used with Django 1.4.1. Distinct function is only working for POSTGRESQL if i get it right.

Answer 1

.distinct([*fields]) only works in PostgresSQL.

From distinct documentation

Here's the difference. For a normal distinct() call, the database compares each field in each row when determining which rows are distinct. For a distinct() call with specified field names, the database will only compare the specified field names.

As stated all fields in a record are checked. Mostly likely in your case you are getting records with different field values (more likely a case if you are queries multiple tables ManyToMany or ForeignKey relations).

For consolidating as array you can refer your earlier question Django Query distinct values works but i cant use the query result

Answer 2

names = Staff.objects.order_by('person__full_name').values('person__full_name').distinct()

will give you distinct full names, and you can do a similar thing to get distinct job categories.

These will give you lists of values, not objects themselves, but if I interpret your question correctly then I think these will give you what you want.