tsql - How to get first available value in a column (not MIN) using aggregate function on a NVARCHAR type column? -

i have temp table (#temptable) looks this:

aid         starttime   endtime     startsid endsid     name 

---

79f05d45    2013-07-02  2013-07-03  1226349  1227338     79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1227381  1227901     79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1233976  1233977    john pringle 79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1234386  1234452     79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1235138  1235147     79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1235669  1235708    mike gordon 79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1235828  1239004    jeff smith 

how use aggregate function on name when group by starttime , endtime john pringle in name column (i tried using min(name) gives me blank value , if use max(name) jeff smith )

basically, requirement first available value in column name

here query:

select     tt.aid,     min(starttime) starttime,     max(endtime) endtime,     min(startssid) startsid,     max(endssid) endsid,     -- tried min(name) here empty cell, max(name) gives wrong result. want first available value in name column here (which john pringle).             #temptable tt     group tt.aid, starttime, endtime 

result get:

aid         starttime   endtime     startsid endsid     name  79f05d45    2013-07-02  2013-07-03  1226349  1227338     79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1227381  1239004 

result aiming for:

aid         starttime   endtime     startsid endsid     name  79f05d45    2013-07-02  2013-07-03  1226349  1227338         79f05d45    2013-07-03  2013-07-03  1227381  1239004    john pringle 

thanks!

;with ( select     aid,     starttime,     endtime,     startssid,     endssid,     rn = row_number() on (partition aid,cast(starttime date) order case when name = '' or name null '20990101' else starttime end, starttime)             #temptable tt ) select aid, starttime, endtime, startssid, endssid rn = 1