hook_views_query_alter, groupby and add_groupby

Okay maybe I missed the obvious and if I missed it then maybe I can document it more clearly for others like myself.

I could not get the view to group, distinct or aggregate the data. I got tons of repeats. Which then I figured I would just write a hook_views_query_alter and add the groupby there. Which add_groupby did seem to work. Well I mean it showed up in the output of $query via dsm.

But the view still had many repeats of this one node.

So I would like to follow up with any documentation to help others not spend so much time on this.

The view by the way is below and basically it was finding duplicate "Resources" IF that Resource had more the one "Related Object Node"

But if someone points me in the right direction I will do what I can to document.

Thanks

$view = new view;
$view->name = 'resources';
$view->description = '';
$view->tag = 'default';
$view->base_table = 'node';
$view->human_name = 'Resources';
$view->core = 7;
$view->api_version = '3.0-alpha1';
$view->disabled = FALSE; /* Edit this to true to make a default view disabled initially */

/* Display: Master */
$handler = $view->new_display('default', 'Master', 'default');
$handler->display->display_options['title'] = 'Resources';
$handler->display->display_options['access']['type'] = 'perm';
$handler->display->display_options['cache']['type'] = 'none';
$handler->display->display_options['query']['type'] = 'views_query';
$handler->display->display_options['query']['options']['distinct'] = TRUE;
$handler->display->display_options['query']['options']['query_comment'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['exposed_form']['type'] = 'basic';
$handler->display->display_options['pager']['type'] = 'none';
$handler->display->display_options['style_plugin'] = 'default';
$handler->display->display_options['row_plugin'] = 'fields';
/* Header: Global: Text area */
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['id'] = 'area';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['table'] = 'views';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['field'] = 'area';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['label'] = 'Resources Header';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['empty'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['content'] = '<div class="resources-list">Resources List</div>
Sed laoreet pretium molestie. In sollicitudin justo sit amet purus dictum porta.ultrices ipsum nec ante tempus molestie. Nulla at nisl ut felis pharetra tristique. Phasellus ultrices sodales risus, non pharetra nisi aliquet ac. Morbi sagittis, sem ac venenatis condimentum, purus magna faucibus augue, at hendrerit sem turpis sit amet tortor. Suspendisse potenti. Phasellus lobortis sollicitudin nulla, et eleifend orci consectetur quis. Aliquam erat volutpat. Duis ante ante, pharetra vitae rhoncus sit amet, condimentum quis libero. Ut rhoncus commodo malesuada. 
<div id="theme-select-wrapper">
<div id="theme-select-header">
</div>
<div id="theme-select">
<div class="inner">
   <div class="theme-select-item"><a href="/resources?theme=1">Mythology & Storytelling <i>in the</i> Warbeke Gallery</a></div>
   <div class="theme-select-item"><a href="/resources?theme=2">Representations of Ancient Women <i>in the</i> Evans Gallery</a></div>
   <div class="theme-select-item"><a href="/resources?theme=3">Theatricality & the Ancient Interior <i>in the</i> Gump Family Gallery</a></div>
   <div class="theme-select-item"><a href="/resources">Show All</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['format'] = 'full_html';
$handler->display->display_options['header']['area']['tokenize'] = 0;
/* Relationship: Content: Related objects (field_related_objects) */
$handler->display->display_options['relationships']['field_related_objects_nid']['id'] = 'field_related_objects_nid';
$handler->display->display_options['relationships']['field_related_objects_nid']['table'] = 'field_data_field_related_objects';
$handler->display->display_options['relationships']['field_related_objects_nid']['field'] = 'field_related_objects_nid';
$handler->display->display_options['relationships']['field_related_objects_nid']['required'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['relationships']['field_related_objects_nid']['delta'] = '-1';
/* Field: Content: Title */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['id'] = 'title';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['table'] = 'node';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['field'] = 'title';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['title']['link_to_node'] = 1;
/* Field: Content: Thumbnail image */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['id'] = 'field_resource_thumb';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['table'] = 'field_data_field_resource_thumb';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['field'] = 'field_resource_thumb';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['external'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['replace_spaces'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['trim_whitespace'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['nl2br'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['element_label_colon'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['element_default_classes'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['hide_alter_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['click_sort_column'] = 'fid';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['settings'] = array(
  'image_style' => '',
  'image_link' => 'content',
);
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_thumb']['field_api_classes'] = 0;
/* Field: Content: Author */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['id'] = 'field_resource_author';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['table'] = 'field_data_field_resource_author';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['field'] = 'field_resource_author';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['external'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['replace_spaces'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['trim_whitespace'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['nl2br'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['element_label_colon'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['element_default_classes'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['hide_alter_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_resource_author']['field_api_classes'] = 0;
/* Field: Content: Short description */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['id'] = 'field_short_description';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['table'] = 'field_data_field_short_description';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['field'] = 'field_short_description';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['external'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['replace_spaces'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['trim_whitespace'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['nl2br'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['element_label_colon'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['element_default_classes'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['hide_alter_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_short_description']['field_api_classes'] = 0;
/* Field: Content: Link */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['id'] = 'view_node';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['table'] = 'node';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['field'] = 'view_node';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['external'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['replace_spaces'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['trim_whitespace'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['nl2br'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['element_label_colon'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['element_default_classes'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['hide_alter_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['view_node']['text'] = 'Read resource';
/* Field: Content: Related objects */
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['id'] = 'field_related_objects';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['table'] = 'field_data_field_related_objects';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['field'] = 'field_related_objects';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['relationship'] = 'field_related_objects_nid';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['label'] = '';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['alter_text'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['make_link'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['absolute'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['external'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['replace_spaces'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['trim_whitespace'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['nl2br'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['word_boundary'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['ellipsis'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['strip_tags'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['trim'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['alter']['html'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['element_label_colon'] = FALSE;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['element_default_classes'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['hide_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['empty_zero'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['hide_alter_empty'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['type'] = 'node_reference_node';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['settings'] = array(
  'node_reference_view_mode' => 'full',
);
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['group_rows'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['delta_offset'] = '0';
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['delta_reversed'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['fields']['field_related_objects']['field_api_classes'] = 0;
/* Sort criterion: Content: Title */
$handler->display->display_options['sorts']['title']['id'] = 'title';
$handler->display->display_options['sorts']['title']['table'] = 'node';
$handler->display->display_options['sorts']['title']['field'] = 'title';
/* Filter criterion: Content: Published */
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['id'] = 'status';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['table'] = 'node';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['field'] = 'status';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['value'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['group'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['status']['expose']['operator'] = FALSE;
/* Filter criterion: Content: Type */
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['type']['id'] = 'type';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['type']['table'] = 'node';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['type']['field'] = 'type';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['type']['value'] = array(
  'resource' => 'resource',
);
/* Filter criterion: Content: Theme (field_tags) */
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['id'] = 'field_tags_tid';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['table'] = 'field_data_field_tags';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['field'] = 'field_tags_tid';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['relationship'] = 'field_related_objects_nid';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['exposed'] = TRUE;
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['expose']['operator_id'] = 'field_tags_tid_op';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['expose']['label'] = 'Theme ';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['expose']['operator'] = 'field_tags_tid_op';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['expose']['identifier'] = 'theme';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['expose']['reduce'] = 0;
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['reduce_duplicates'] = 1;
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['type'] = 'select';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['vocabulary'] = 'theme';
$handler->display->display_options['filters']['field_tags_tid']['error_message'] = 1;

/* Display: Page */
$handler = $view->new_display('page', 'Page', 'page');
$handler->display->display_options['path'] = 'resources';
$handler->display->display_options['menu']['type'] = 'normal';
$handler->display->display_options['menu']['title'] = 'Browse the Resources';
$handler->display->display_options['menu']['weight'] = '0';
$handler->display->display_options['menu']['name'] = 'main-menu';