Re: [HACKERS] Enhancing PGSQL to be compatible with Informix SQL

At 12:00 AM 1/7/00 -0400, The Hermit Hacker wrote:
>On Thu, 6 Jan 2000, Bruce Momjian wrote:
>
>> > select ...
>> > from t1 inner join t4 on t1.x=t4.x,
>> > t2 left outer join t1
>> > on t2.y=t1.y and
>> > (t1.start_date between t2.start_date and t1.start_date),
>> > t3 left outer join t1 on t3.x=t1.x and t3.y = t1.y;
>>
>> Let's be honest, folks. This is almost unreadable. I think we will
>> need some simpler way to access _outer_ in addition to the ANSI way.

Well...it took a minute to digest the Oracle version, too. Most joins
are far simpler than the example.

>How do the "books" talk about JOINs? What is the semi-standard syntax
>that is generally used in samples?

"SQL for smarties" gives examples of vendor-specific syntax then talks
about outer joins more abstractly. It also points out that the existing
vendor solutions have weaknesses.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza(at)pacifier(dot)com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, Pacific Northwest
Rare Bird Alert Service and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net.