Question: I'm having trouble writing the SQL code to select distinct contacts across 8 columns from an access table. I want to only get the distinct results to not have duplicates. Below is what I've tried.

```
cmd.CommandText = "select distinct c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7, c8 
                   from table 
                   where state IN (" + paramClause.ToString() + ")";

```

My purpose is to show this on a label with no duplicates.

Answer: 
If I have correctly understood, you have contacts in one or more column (from c1 to c8).

If so, try to rewrite your SQL statement like the following:

```
SELECT C1
FROM TABLE
WHERE STATE IN (...)
UNION
SELECT C2
FROM TABLE
WHERE STATE IN (...)
...
UNION
SELECT C8
FROM TABLE
WHERE STATE IN (...)

```

The UNION operator eliminates duplicates by itself.

I hope this helps you....
You have:

```
cmd.CommandText = "select distinct c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7, c8 
                   from table 
                   where state IN (" + paramClause.ToString() + ")";

```

But you need to wrap strings in single quotes. I think the problem is in your WHERE clause. Try doing this:

```
cmd.CommandText = "select distinct c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7, c8 
                   from table 
                   where state IN ('" + paramClause.ToString() + "')";

```