---
title: "Fetch Distinct Values"
slug: "fetch-distinct-values"
tags: ["values", "fetch entities", "Data Structures"]
updated: 2023-10-31T17:53:26Z
published: 2023-10-31T17:53:26Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/fetch-distinct-values"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fetch Distinct Values

| ## Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 4.0.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 5.12.0 |
| **Location** | Integration > Entity Framework |

The **Fetch Distinct Values** step will get the distinct values in a Data Structure.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Type Name | Define which Type is being fetched by the step. | --- |
| Fetch Deleted Entities | Will fetch entities that were deleted | --- |
| Show Path For One Result | Will add an outcome path for a single result | --- |
| Combine Filters Using AND | This setting will combine the filters set up in the Fetch Criteria section using AND | --- |
| Selected Field | The desired field to get values from | --- |
| Sort Order Field | Defines how the values are sorted | --- |
| Fetch Criteria | Allows the user to add new Fetch Criteria by using the Field Name to construct a query-like statement for Decisions to interpret automatically within the step. More than one Fetch Criteria can be configured. | --- |
| Read uncommitted data | Enabling this feature allows Decisions to read entities in a database that have been changed but not saved. | --- |
| Respect Permissions | If enabled, the step will not fetch entities until the user has the minimum 'CanUse' permission for that folder. | --- |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Field Results | Values fetched from the Data Structure | List of [Data Type] |

---

## Example Inputs and Outputs

| Type Name | Selected Field | Output |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Transaction | _Category | "Expenses", "Finance" |
| Null | Empty | EXCEPTION MESSAGE |

#### ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1673031237779.png)

---

## Common Errors

### Value cannot be null

If the Selected FIeld value is not selected, an error will occur. To correct this, ensure that a field from the data type is selected.

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Fetch Distinct Values 1[FetchDistinctValues] in flow [Flow 10]: not found, please fix the mapping.
 ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: not found, please fix the mapping. at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.DataBase.AbstractTypeStep.GetFieldName(String ormFieldName
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.DataBase.FetchDistinctValues.Run(StepStartData data
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

## Step Changes

| Description | Version | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Added the "Respect Permissions" setting to the Fetch Entities, Get Count, Fetch Distinct Values, Delete Entities, and Update Entities steps. | [8.16](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/version-816x-release-notes) | [DT-033517] |

---

## Related

- [Fetch Entities Step](/fetch-entities-step.md)
- [Lease Entity](/lease-entity.md)
- [Delete Entities](/delete-entities.md)
- [Move Entity](/move-entity.md)