Only begin select if value is found in dataset sql

[Joanna Webster]

Hi I wish to only begin a select statement if the top value date is found. It's my way of knowing data has been added into a system at the beginning of the month e.g max date is 01/01/2018. If not take the last day of the month 31/10/2018. Table is called sales. Column is called SaleDateFrom. I want to pull e.g data from SaleDateFrom <=01/01/2018...if not pull data SaleDateFrom <=31/12/2018 Any ideas team?

[Lost User]

That does not make a lot of sense. If you ask for records whose date is less than or equal to 01/01/2018, then all records whose date is less than 31/12/2017 (I presume you mean 2017 here) will also fulfil the criteria.

[jschell]

You want to pull the "most recent months" data. Yes that it possible. Didn't look but I am certain that google will display many answers for that. Add your specific database in do get a more relevant answer.