#### Left Outer [=(+), *=] join

The result set from a Left Outer join includes all the records in which the linked field value in both tables is an exact match. It also includes a row for every record in the primary (left) table for which the linked field value has no match in the lookup table. For instance, you can use a Left Outer join to view all customers and the orders they have placed, but you also get a row for every customer who has not placed any orders. These customers appear at the end of the list with blanks in the fields that would otherwise hold order information:

Customer Table | Customer Table | Orders Table
--- | --- | ---
Customer ID | Customer Name | Order Amount
52 | Allez Distribution | 25141.50
53 | BG Mountain Inc. | 19164.30
53 | BG Mountain Inc. | 1683.60
57 | Hansen MTB Inc. | 15716.40
58 | La Bomba de Bicicleta | 1956.20
60 | Mountain Toad | 24580.50
62 | SFB Inc. | 7911.80
63 | Sierra Bicycle Group | 19766.20
63 | Sierra Bicycle Group | 12763.95
64 | Sierra Mountain | 8233.50
54 | Bicicletas Aztecas |
55 | Deely MTB Inc. |

Note: Left Outer and Right Outer joins are handled differently in the SQL language from other join types. If the database is accessed through ODBC, Seagate Crystal Reports uses ODBC syntax in the SQL statement. If you are connecting to an SQL database directly (not through ODBC), Seagate Crystal Reports uses a syntax native to the database. For more information about what an Outer join looks like in an SQL statement, refer to Microsoft ODBCTM documentation or to the documentation for your SQL database.

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com