SELECT a.*, COALESCE(b.some_col, 'some_default_val') as b_result
FROM a LEFTJOIN b ON (a.id = b.id);
This will produce at least 1 row for every row in a, and if a.id doesn’t match any b.id, the value of b_result will be 'some_default_val'.
Not sure if that’s exactly what you were describing (since it was a little ambiguous), but that’s how I interpreted it.
Ultimately it’s just a matter of investing a little time to learn it. It’s not fundamentally difficult or complex, even though you certainly can write very complex queries.
Heh yeah that’s pretty straightforward:
SELECT a.*, COALESCE(b.some_col, 'some_default_val') as b_result FROM a LEFT JOIN b ON (a.id = b.id);This will produce at least 1 row for every row in
a, and ifa.iddoesn’t match anyb.id, the value ofb_resultwill be'some_default_val'.Not sure if that’s exactly what you were describing (since it was a little ambiguous), but that’s how I interpreted it.
Ultimately it’s just a matter of investing a little time to learn it. It’s not fundamentally difficult or complex, even though you certainly can write very complex queries.