i think this is what op's asking about
SELECT t.id,t.date,t1.*
FROM
(
SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY id ORDER BY date DESC) AS RN,*
FROM Table
)t
INNER JOIN OtherTable t1
ON t1.column = t.relatedcolumn
WHERE RN=1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SQL Server MVP
http://visakhm.blogspot.com/