The Problem (Q-score 4, ranked #35th of 67 in the Access VBA archive)
The scenario as originally posted in 2012
This query will return the top for all rows in MS Access.
SELECT TOP 1 * FROM [table]
ORDER BY table.[Date] DESC;
I need to return the top date for each id that can have multiple dates.
ID DATE
1 01/01/2001
1 01/12/2011
3 01/01/2001
3 01/12/2011
Should return only the top dates like this.
1 01/12/2011
3 01/12/2011
Why community consensus is tight on this one
Across 67 Access VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds solid answer (above median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.
The Verified Solution — solid answer (above median) (+9)
4-line Access VBA pattern (copy-ready)
You’ll want to use the MAX function, along with a GROUP BY.
SELECT ID, MAX(DATE)
FROM [table]
GROUP BY ID
When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)
Ranked #35th in its category — specialized fit
This pattern sits in the 71% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Access VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.
What changed between 2012 and 2026
The answer is 14 years old. The Access VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.