Hypothetical Queries and Joins. AKA Why are these different?

  • I know that its different and reading the execution plan obviously shows it's different, but I'm trying to figure out why it's interpreted differently.

    Select * from

    A

    Inner join

    B on a.id = b.id

    LEFT OUTER JOIN

    C on c.id = b.id

    INNER JOIN

    D on d.id = c.id

    INNER JOIN E

    ON E.id = d.id

    Edit: Got carried away. you can assume that all joins are int to int.

    Select * from

    A

    Inner join

    B on a.id = b.id

    LEFT OUTER JOIN

    C

    INNER JOIN

    D on d.id = c.id

    INNER JOIN E

    ON E.id = d.id

    on c.id = b.id

  • Are you sure about your syntax?

    Where is the join to F in either query? What are using to join to C in the second query?

    Please cut and paste the actual code. Don't type freehand.

    __________________________________________________

    Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
    Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

  • It's a syntactical way to represent subquerying.

    The basic gist is do you inner join the entire left join first, thus restricting what gets left joined, or perform the left join then travel down the path and hard join on the results of the left join.

    It's not obvious and you've really got to play with it a bit to get used to where you place the ON clauses.

    Most people will use a subquery for the explicit methodology of it, and clearer code writing. I use it as a shorthand, but it's not good practice. As you can tell, it's tough to see the nuance.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • The Dixie Flatline (6/2/2011)


    Are you sure about your syntax?

    Where is the join to F in either query? What are using to join to C in the second query?

    Please cut and paste the actual code. Don't type freehand.

    This will probably help you with the formatting and a very simplified example, Dixie, of what's happening here:

    IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#tmp') is not null

    DROP TABLE #tmp

    IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#tmp1') is not null

    DROP TABLE #tmp1

    IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#tmp2') is not null

    DROP TABLE #tmp2

    CREATE TABLE #tmp (BaseID INT)

    CREATE TABLE #tmp1 (LeftJoinID INT)

    CREATE TABLE #tmp2 (InnerJoinID INT)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (1)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (2)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (3)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (4)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (5)

    INSERT INTO #tmp VALUES (6)

    INSERT INTO #tmp1 VALUES (1)

    INSERT INTO #tmp1 VALUES (2)

    INSERT INTO #tmp1 VALUES (3)

    INSERT INTO #tmp1 VALUES (4)

    INSERT INTO #tmp2 VALUES (4)

    INSERT INTO #tmp2 VALUES (5)

    INSERT INTO #tmp2 VALUES (6)

    --SELECT * FROM #tmp

    --SELECT * FROM #tmp1

    --SELECT * FROM #tmp2

    --The usual way

    SELECT

    t.*, t1.*, t2.*

    FROM

    #tmp AS t

    LEFT JOIN

    #tmp1 AS t1

    ON t.BaseID = t1.LeftJoinID

    JOIN

    #tmp2 AS t2

    ONt1.LeftJoinID = t2.InnerJoinID

    -- Inner join on the outside shorthand

    SELECT

    t.*, t1.*, t2.*

    FROM

    #tmp AS t

    LEFT JOIN

    #tmp1 AS t1

    JOIN

    #tmp2 AS t2

    ONt1.LeftJoinID = t2.InnerJoinID

    ON t.BaseID = t1.LeftJoinID

    EDIT: I should note I ran that on 2k5 to confirm I got the results I expected. If you'll notice, I did nothing but move the ON clause from the LEFT JOIN until after the JOIN. That's it... well, and a little formatting.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • Craig, I created tables A-F in my sandbox database and the queries posted would not run.

    Msg 4104, Level 16, State 1, Line 10

    The multi-part identifier "f.id" could not be bound.

    I understood what his question was, but I wanted to see actual executable queries before trying to answer.

    __________________________________________________

    Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
    Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

  • The Dixie Flatline (6/2/2011)


    Craig, I created tables A-F in my sandbox database and the queries posted would not run.

    Msg 4104, Level 16, State 1, Line 10

    The multi-part identifier "f.id" could not be bound.

    I understood what his question was, but I wanted to see actual executable queries before trying to answer.

    Ooooooh, sorry then. 😛 I must have misread something you wrote. Sorry bout that. However, apparently he edited after you swung through and removed the F's.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • Ah, thanks guys. It makes sense, just never occurred to me to write it that way.

    Edit: Indeed, I did edit it. Meant to note it. My bad.

  • No problem. 🙂 Craig, I learned from your explanation.

    Have a great evening, guys.

    __________________________________________________

    Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
    Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

  • Obs (6/2/2011)


    Ah, thanks guys. It makes sense, just never occurred to me to write it that way.

    Edit: Indeed, I did edit it. Meant to note it. My bad.

    Glad to help. 🙂


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

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