# Number or rank rows Shape / rows row number, record id, rank, dense rank, ntile Page: ## Status Runs as a SQL step. arcform carries it as a `sql:` step today. ## The DuckDB step row number, rank and quartile It reads the `orders` table the proofs share. Create it first: ```sql CREATE TABLE orders AS SELECT * FROM (VALUES (1, 'Alice Ng', 'north', DATE '2026-01-03', 120.00, 'widget', 'a|b', '{"channel":"web","items":[1,2]}'), (2, 'alice ng', 'north', DATE '2026-01-05', 80.50, 'gadget', 'b', '{"channel":"shop","items":[3]}'), (3, 'Bob Okafor', 'south', DATE '2026-01-05', 300.00, 'widget', 'a|c', '{"channel":"web","items":[4,5,6]}'), (4, 'Carla Díaz', 'east', DATE '2026-01-09', NULL, 'gizmo', NULL, '{"channel":"web","items":[]}'), (5, 'Bob Okafor', 'south', DATE '2026-01-12', 45.25, 'gadget', 'c', '{"channel":"phone","items":[7]}'), (6, 'Dev Patel', 'west', DATE '2026-01-12', 510.00, 'widget', 'a', '{"channel":"web","items":[8,9]}'), (7, 'Carla Diaz', 'east', DATE '2026-01-20', 99.99, 'gizmo', 'b|c', '{"channel":"shop","items":[10]}'), (8, 'Dev Patel', 'west', DATE '2026-02-02', 510.00, 'widget', 'a', '{"channel":"web","items":[8,9]}'), (9, 'Eve Larsen', NULL, DATE '2026-02-03', 15.00, 'gadget', NULL, '{"channel":"web","items":[11]}'), (10, 'Alice Ng', 'north', DATE '2026-02-10', 220.00, 'gizmo', 'a|b|c', '{"channel":"phone","items":[12,13]}') ) t(order_id, customer, region, order_date, amount, product, tags, meta); ``` Then run the statement: ```sql CREATE TEMP TABLE result AS SELECT order_id, amount, row_number() OVER (ORDER BY order_id) AS rn, dense_rank() OVER (ORDER BY amount DESC NULLS LAST) AS amount_rank, ntile(4) OVER (ORDER BY amount) AS quartile FROM orders; SELECT * FROM result; SELECT CASE WHEN ((SELECT count(*) FILTER (WHERE amount = 510 AND amount_rank = 1) = 2 AND max(rn) = 10 AND count(DISTINCT quartile) = 4 FROM result)) THEN 'as expected' ELSE error('the two largest orders do not share rank 1, or the numbering is wrong') END AS verdict; ``` It needs nothing installed beyond DuckDB itself. ## Variants - Flag the last row: Add a flag that is true only on the last row of the stream. - [Split rows into equal buckets](https://meridian.online/operations/number-or-rank-rows/split-rows-into-equal-buckets): Assign each row to one of N buckets of equal size, in order. - Find the position of a row: Return the row positions at which given rows occur in a table. - [Percentile rank](https://meridian.online/operations/number-or-rank-rows/percentile-rank): Give each row its relative position within its partition as a fraction from 0 to 1. - [Rank rows](https://meridian.online/operations/number-or-rank-rows/rank-rows): Add a column giving each row its rank by one or more ordering columns, with ties sharing a rank. - Number rows in order: Add a column counting the rows from a start value, in their order or within groups, from a counter or a sequence. - [Number runs of equal values](https://meridian.online/operations/number-or-rank-rows/number-runs-of-equal-values): Add a number that restarts, or an id that changes, whenever the value of chosen columns changes from one row to the next. - [Add a unique id](https://meridian.online/operations/number-or-rank-rows/add-a-unique-id): Add a column holding a random, hashed or time-ordered identifier that is unique to each row and does not depend on row order. ## What other tools call it Meridian's classification; an independent blind rating agreed on 86.2% of 312 rows (exact class, version 2). - Azure Data Factory: [`Rank`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/data-flow-rank) (read 2026-09-27) - Azure Data Factory: [`Surrogate key`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/data-flow-surrogate-key) (read 2026-09-27) - Alteryx Designer: [`Rank`](https://help.alteryx.com/current/en/designer/tools/preparation/rank-tool.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Alteryx Designer: [`Record ID`](https://help.alteryx.com/current/en/designer/tools/preparation/record-id-tool.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Bruin: [`rank`](https://getbruin.com/docs/bruin/core-concepts/semantic-layer.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`cume_dist`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`dense_rank`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`ntile`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`percent_rank`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`rank`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache DataFusion: [`row_number`](https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/window_functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`CREATE SEQUENCE`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/statements/create_sequence) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`cume_dist`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`dense_rank`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`ntile`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`percent_rank`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`rank`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`rank_dense`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: [`row_number`](https://duckdb.org/docs/current/sql/functions/window_functions) (read 2026-09-27) - Duckle: [`Dense Rank`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`NTile`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`Rank`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`Row Number`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`Surrogate Key`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/frontend/src/workflow-ui/palette-data.ts) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`UUID`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - EasyMorph: [`Enumerate groups`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:enumerategroups) (read 2026-09-27) - EasyMorph: [`Enumerate rows`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:enumerate) (read 2026-09-27) - EasyMorph: [`Generate unique identifiers`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:generateuids) (read 2026-09-27) - AWS Glue: [`Identifier`](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/glue/latest/dg/transforms-identifier.html) (read 2026-09-27) - AWS Glue: [`UUID`](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/glue/latest/dg/transforms-uuid.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Add Sequence`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/addsequence.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Add value fields changing sequence`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/addfieldschangesequence.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Identify last row in a stream`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/identifylastrow.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Snowflake ID Generator`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/snowflakeid.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`CumeDist`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`DenseRank`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`MinRank`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`NTile`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`PercentRank`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`RandomUUID`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/generic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`RowID`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/generic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - Ibis: [`RowNumber`](https://github.com/ibis-project/ibis/blob/05d2b293344e86cb41c1a426071734f7e270335a/ibis/expr/operations/analytic.py) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Rank`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*-nXP9ULsMFxDeH3m?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`RowID`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*1Uo48m8MIHW-seLx?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Add sequence`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Add value fields changing sequence`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Get ID from slave server`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Identify last row in a stream`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Polars: [`DataFrame.with_row_count`](https://docs.pola.rs/api/python/stable/reference/dataframe/modify_select.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Polars: [`DataFrame.with_row_index`](https://docs.pola.rs/api/python/stable/reference/dataframe/modify_select.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Polars: [`Expr.rank`](https://docs.pola.rs/api/python/stable/reference/expressions/computation.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Polars: [`Expr.rle_id`](https://docs.pola.rs/api/python/stable/reference/expressions/modify_select.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Polars: [`row_index`](https://docs.pola.rs/api/python/stable/reference/expressions/functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Table.AddIndexColumn`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/table-functions#transformation) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Table.AddRankColumn`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/table-functions#ordering) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Table.PositionOf`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/table-functions#membership) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Table.PositionOfAny`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/table-functions#membership) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Generate Batch`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/blending/attributes/generation/generate_batch.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Generate ID`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/blending/attributes/generation/generate_id.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Generate Rank (In Database)`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/extensions/In-Database%20Processing/indb_blending/indb_generate_rank.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`RANK`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_function_reference.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`RANK_DENSE`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_function_reference.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`RANK_MODIFIED`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_function_reference.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`RANK_PERCENTILE`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_function_reference.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`ROW_NUMBER`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_function_reference.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`Rank`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_calculations.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Tableau Prep: [`Source Row Number`](https://help.tableau.com/current/prep/en-us/prep_configure_dastaset.htm) (read 2026-09-27) - Trifacta: [`DENSERANK Function`](https://help.alteryx.com/aac/en/trifacta-classic/wrangle-language/window-functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Trifacta: [`RANK Function`](https://help.alteryx.com/aac/en/trifacta-classic/wrangle-language/window-functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Trifacta: [`ROWNUMBER Function`](https://help.alteryx.com/aac/en/trifacta-classic/wrangle-language/window-functions.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Trifacta: [`sourcerownumber`](https://help.alteryx.com/aac/en/trifacta-classic/reference/transformation-reference.html) (read 2026-09-27) - VisiData: [`addcol-incr`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/incr.py#L41) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`addcol-incr-key`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/incr.py#L40) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`addcol-incr-step`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/incr.py#L43) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`addcol-rank-sheet`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/rank.py#L106) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`addcol-rownum`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/experimental/rownum.py#L72) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`setcol-incr`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/incr.py#L42) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`setcol-incr-step`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/incr.py#L44) (read 2026-09-23)