Issue in SQL query with Left Join - sql

I'm trying to fetch data from Hana database integrated.
Following is the SQL:-
SELECT alert.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID,
alert.MARK_AS_DELETED,
data.VALUE
FROM "ab"."t-systems.testDB::tables.Alerting" alert
LEFT JOIN
"ab"."t-systems.testDB::tables.AdditionalData" data
ON alert.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID = data.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID
AND data.KEY='batchId'
AND alert.MARK_AS_DELETED != '1';
Problem is I'm getting all the data where Mark_As_Deleted is also 1. The != is not working properly. I tried with <> but problem still persists. I guess something wrong with my Left Join query because when I remove all join and make a simple Select query with same condition as MARK_AS_DELETED != '1', I get proper output but not with Left Join.
I tried re-writing my Left Join query with all possible ways (like moving the condition up & down, etc) but nothing worked.
I would really appreciate if you someone can help me here

When using left join, conditions on the first table should normally go into a where clause.
So I think you want:
SELECT alert.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID, alert.MARK_AS_DELETED, data.VALUE
FROM "ab"."t-systems.testDB::tables.Alerting" alert LEFT JOIN
"ab"."t-systems.testDB::tables.AdditionalData" data
ON alert.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID = data.UNIQUE_ALERT_ID AND
data.KEY = 'batchId'
WHERE alert.MARK_AS_DELETED <> '1'; -- remove the quotes if this is a number
This follows from the definition of a LEFT JOIN. A LEFT JOIN keeps all rows in the first table, regardless of whether the ON clause evaluates to true, false, or NULL.
So, a condition on the first table is ignored. The rule is conditions on the first table go in WHERE and on the second table, in the ON.

Related

SQL SRVR 2016: Trouble joining to a nested select statement

I'm working in a query window in SSMS.
Using 3 tables:
WORK_ORDER wo
An order to fabricate a part
OPERATION op
An operation in the fabrication of the part (laser, grinding, plating, etc.)
PART pt
A unique record defining the part
My objective is to report on the status of an operation (say #3) (#total parts ordered, #completed parts), but additionally to include the number of parts that have completed the previous operation (#2) in the sequence and are ready for the process. My solution was to use the LAG function, which works perfectly when the nested select statement below is run independently, but I get an avg of 4X duplication in my results, and my Completed_QTY_PREV_OP column is not displayed. I am aware that's because it's not in the parent select statement, but I wanted to correct the join first. I'm guessing the two problems are related.
Footnote: The WHERE contains a filter that you can ignore. The parent select statement works perfectly without the joined subquery.
Here's my sql:
SELECT op.RESOURCE_ID, pt.USER_5 AS PRODUCT, wo.PART_ID, wo.TYPE, wo.BASE_ID,
wo.LOT_ID, wo.SPLIT_ID, wo.SUB_ID, op.SEQUENCE_NO, pt.DESCRIPTION,
wo.DESIRED_QTY, op.FULFILLED_QTY AS QTY_COMP, op.SERVICE_ID, op.DISPATCHED_QTY, wo.STATUS
FROM dbo.WORK_ORDER wo INNER JOIN
dbo.OPERATION op ON wo.TYPE = op.WORKORDER_TYPE
AND wo.BASE_ID = op.WORKORDER_BASE_ID
AND wo.LOT_ID = op.WORKORDER_LOT_ID
AND wo.SPLIT_ID = op.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID
AND wo.SUB_ID = op.WORKORDER_SUB_ID INNER JOIN
dbo.PART pt ON wo.PART_ID = pt.ID
LEFT OUTER JOIN
--The nested select statement works by itself in a query window,
--but the JOIN throws an error.
(SELECT
pr.WORKORDER_TYPE, pr.WORKORDER_BASE_ID, pr.WORKORDER_LOT_ID,
pr.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID, pr.WORKORDER_SUB_ID, pr.SEQUENCE_NO,
LAG (COMPLETED_QTY, 1) OVER (ORDER BY pr.WORKORDER_TYPE, pr.WORKORDER_BASE_ID,
pr.WORKORDER_LOT_ID, pr.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID, pr.WORKORDER_SUB_ID, pr.SEQUENCE_NO) AS COMP_QTY_PREV_OP
FROM dbo.OPERATION AS pr) AS prev
--End of nested select
ON
op.WORKORDER_TYPE = prev.WORKORDER_TYPE AND
op.WORKORDER_BASE_ID = prev.WORKORDER_BASE_ID AND
op.WORKORDER_LOT_ID = prev.WORKORDER_LOT_ID AND
op.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID = prev.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID AND
op.WORKORDER_SUB_ID = prev.WORKORDER_SUB_ID
WHERE (NOT (op.SERVICE_ID IS NULL)) AND (wo.STATUS = N'R')
You haven't given enough information for a definitive answer, so instead I will give you an approach to debugging this.
You are getting unexpected rows as a result of a JOIN. This means that your JOIN condition is not matching the two sides of the JOIN on a one-to-one basis. There are multiple rows in the table being JOINed that meet the JOIN conditions.
To find these rows, temporarily change your SELECT list to SELECT *. Do this both in the outer SELECT, and in the derived table. Look through the columns being returned by the JOINed table, and find the values that you didn't expect to be returned.
Since the JOIN that causes the issue is the last one, they will be all the way to right of the result of a SELECT *.
Then add more conditions to the JOIN to eliminate the unwanted rows from the results.
I simplified the whole query by first creating a temp table filled by the previously nested SELECT, and then joining to it from the parent SELECT.
Works perfectly now. Thanks for looking.
PS: I apologize for the confusion about an error message. I noticed after I posted that I had an old comment in the code regarding an error. The error had been resolved before posting, but I neglected to remove the comment.

SQL Server Query - Weird Behaviour

Consider below SQL.
SELECT DISTINCT bvc_Order.ID,
bvc_OrderItem.ProductID,
bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID
FROM dbo.bvc_OrderItem WITH (nolock)
RIGHT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_Order WITH (nolock)
LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_User WITH (nolock) ON dbo.bvc_Order.UserID = dbo.bvc_User.ID
LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.Amazon_Merchants WITH (nolock) ON dbo.bvc_Order.CompanyID = dbo.Amazon_Merchants.ID ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.OrderID = dbo.bvc_Order.ID
LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem WITH (nolock) ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ID = dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.OrderItemID
LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_Product WITH (nolock) ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ProductID = dbo.bvc_Product.ID
WHERE 1=1
AND (bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 1
AND bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 999)
AND ( bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00'))
AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56;
The query when I execute against my database, it returns 85 rows. Well, that is not correct.
If I just remove the part "AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56" it returns back 5 rows which is really correct.
Strange.....
Another thing, if I remove the part
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
it will also return the 5 rows as expected even with bvc_Order.OrderSource filter.
I am not sure why it is adding more rows while I am trying to reduce rows by using filters.
the table bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem doesn't contain any rows for the result order ids or OrderItemIDs
[edit]
Thanks guys, I tried to remove the LEFT/RIGHT Join Mix but Query manager doesn't allows only LEFT, it does add at least one RIGHT join. I updated the SQL to remove extra tables and now we have only three. But same result
SELECT DISTINCT dbo.bvc_Order.ID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ProductID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID AS Expr1
FROM dbo.bvc_OrderItem
LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ID = dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.OrderItemId
RIGHT OUTER JOIN dbo.bvc_Order ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.OrderID = dbo.bvc_Order.ID
WHERE 1=1
AND (bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 1 AND bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 999)
AND (
bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
)
AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56;
[edit]So far, there is no solution for this. I previously pasted a link in my comment with example data outout for both valid/invalid results with queries. here it is again.
http://sameers.me/SQLIssue.xlsx
One thing to remember here is that ALL left join is not possible. Let me explain further
bvc_Order contains main order record
bvc_ORderItem contains Order Items/Products
bvc_ORderItem_BundleItem contains child products of the product which are available in bvC_OrderItem table.
Now NOT Every product has child products, so bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem may not have any record (and in current scenario, there is really no valid row for the orders in bvC_OrderItem_BundleItem).
In short, in current scenario, there is NO matching row available in bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem table. If I remove that join for now, it is all okay, but in real world, I can't remove that BundleItem table join ofcourse.
thank you
When you say
WHERE bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56
that evaluates to false when bvc_Order.OrderSource is NULL. If the LEFT/RIGHT join failed then it will be NULL. This effectively turns the LEFT/RIGHT join into an inner join.
You probably should write the predicate into the ON clause. An alternative approach, which might not deliver the same results, is:
WHERE (bvc_Order.OrderSource IS NULL OR bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56)
The other predicates have the same problem:
Another thing, if I remove the part OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00') it will also return the 5 rows as expected
When the join fails bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID is NULL.
I also would recommend writing queries manually. If I understand you right this query comes from a designer. It's structure is quite confusing. I'm pulling up the most important comment:
Mixing left and right outer joins in a query is just confusing. You should start by rewriting the from clause to only use one type (and I strongly recommend left outer join). – Gordon Linoff
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however
improbable, must be the truth? S.H.
It is impossible that an extra AND condition appended to a WHERE clause can ever result in extra rows. That would imply a database engine defect, which I hope I can assume is "impossible". (If not, then I guess it's back to square one).
That fact makes it easier to concentrate on possible reasons:
When you comment out
AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56;
then you also comment out the semicolon terminator. Is it possible
that there is text following this query that is affecting it? Try
putting a semicolon at the end of the previous line to make sure.
Depending on the tool you are using to run queries, sometimes when a
query fails to execute, the tool mistakenly shows an old result set.
Make sure your query is executing correctly by adding a dummy column
to the SELECT statement to absolutely prove you are seeing live
results. Which tool are you using?
when you use LEFT outer join it will give all the rows from left table (dbo.bvc_OrderItem) once the your and, or conditions satisfies,
the same thing happens with Right outer join too,
Those conditions (Left join, right join ) may not restrict the rows since rows from one table can be all, another table with some rows only.
check with your join condition
Then check you condition :
(bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 1 AND bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 999)
if any rows satisfying this condition
next check with another condition
[bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')]
Then bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56
compare the result of three queries and check the data in with the conditions and then write your complete query, so that you will understand where the mistake you have done.
Few points to remember
1.And is applied during Virtual join phases
2.Where clause is applied after the final result
3.Left join followed by right join is effectively an inner join in some cases
Lets break your query step by step..
dbo.bvc_OrderItem a1
LEFT OUTER JOIN
dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem b1
Above output will be a single virtual table (logically) which contains all rows from b1 with matching rows from a1
now below predicates from your and clause will be applied
bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
which effectively eliminates all rows from bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem even if they have matches and gives result some thing like below if bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00') is true
bvc_OrderItem bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem
28046 28046
null 1
null 2
null 3
if this condition(bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')) is true,then you are asking sql to ignore all rows in bvc_OrderItem ,which effectively means the same result set as above
bvc_OrderItem bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem other columns
28046 28046
null 1
null 2
null 3
next you are doing right outer join with dbo.bvc_Order which may qualifies for the join point I mentioned above
Assume ,you got below result set as output which preserves all of bvc_order table(rough output only for understanding due to lack of actual data)
bvc_OrderItem bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem statuscode ordersource
28046 28046 999 56
null 1 1 57
null 2 100 58
null 3 11 59
Next below AND predicates will be applied
status code <>1 and statuscode<> 999
which means ignore rows which match with bvc_order and has status of 1 ,999 even if they found matching rows
Next you are asking bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56; which means I don't care about other rows,preserve matching rows only for 56 and keep the rest as null
Hope this clarifies on what is happening step by step.A more better way can be provide some test data and show the expected output.
you also can control physical order of joins,you can try below to see if this is what you are trying to do..
SELECT DISTINCT dbo.bvc_Order.ID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ProductID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID AS Expr1
dbo.bvc_OrderItem
LEFT OUTER JOIN
(
dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem
RIGHT OUTER JOIN
dbo.bvc_Order
ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.OrderID = dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.OrderItemId
)c
on
dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ID = c.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.OrderItemId
WHERE 1=1
AND (bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 1 AND bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 999)
AND (
bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
OR bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00')
)
AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56;
It looks like you are using the Query Designer. I would avoid using this as this can make your queries extremely confusing. Your queries will be much more concise if you are designing them by hand. If you don't completely understand how inner/outer joins work, a great textbook that I used to teach myself SQL is Murach's SQL Server for Developers.
https://www.murach.com/shop/murach-s-sql-server-2012-for-developers-detail
Now, onto the answer.
I've been thinking about how to resolve your problem, and if you are trying to reduce the result set to 5 rows, why are you using multiple outer joins in the first place? I would consider switching the joins to inner joins instead of outer joins if you are looking for a very specific result set. I can't really provide you with a really comprehensive answer without looking at exactly what results you are trying to achieve, but here's a general idea based on what you've provided to all of us:
SELECT DISTINCT dbo.bvc_Order.ID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ProductID, dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID AS 'bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem_ProductID'
FROM dbo.bvc_OrderItem
INNER JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.ID = dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.OrderItemId
INNER JOIN dbo.bvc_Order ON dbo.bvc_OrderItem.OrderID = dbo.bvc_Order.ID
Start here and then based upon what you are searching for, add where clauses to filter criteria.
Also, your where clause must be rewritten if you use an inner join instead of an outer join:
WHERE 1=1 --not really sure why this is here. This will always be true. Omit this statement to avoid a bad result set.
AND (bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 1 AND bvc_Order.StatusCode <> 999) --this is saying, if the StatusCode is not equal to 1 and not equal to 999, don't include it.
--Revised: Look for Status codes with 1 or 999
--bvc_Order.StatusCode = 1 OR bvc_Order.StatusCode = 999
AND (bvc_OrderItem.ProductID IN ('28046_00') --I would eliminate this unless you are looking to see if this exists in Product ID. You could also accomplish this if you are trying to see if this value is in both tables, change this to:
bvc_OrderItem.ProductID = '28046_00' AND bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem.ProductID = '28046_00')
--if you are trying to see if the order source is 56, use this.
AND bvc_Order.OrderSource = 56;
If you are trying to find out rows that are not included in this result set, then I would use OUTER JOIN as necessary (LEFT preferred). Without more information about what you're looking for in your database, that's the best all of us can do.
bLike #usr writ, the reason of this unexpected (for you) result is, you build query with outer joins, and filter rows after join. If you need filter rows of outer joined tables, you should do this before join.
but probably you try build this:
SELECT DISTINCT o.ID, oi.ProductID, bi.ProductID AS Expr1
FROM dbo.bvc_Order as o
LEFT JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem as oi on oi.OrderID = o.ID
LEFT JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem as bi ON oi.ID = bi.OrderItemId
WHERE 1=1
AND o.OrderSource = 56;
AND o.StatusCode not in (1, 999)
AND '28046_00' in (oi.ProductID, isnull(bi.ProductID,'_') )
Is this query give results what you need?
if not, try change last condition, for example:
and (bi.ProductID = '28046_00' or bi.ProductID is null and oi.ProductID = '28046_00')
you can also put additional condition in to join conditions, for example:
SELECT DISTINCT o.ID, oi.ProductID, bi.ProductID AS Expr1
FROM dbo.bvc_Order as o
LEFT JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem as oi on oi.OrderID = o.ID
LEFT JOIN dbo.bvc_OrderItem_BundleItem as bi ON oi.ID = bi.OrderItemId
and bi.ProductID in ('28046_00') --this join BundleItem only if ...
WHERE 1=1
AND o.OrderSource = 56;
AND o.StatusCode not in (1, 999)
AND (oi.ProductID in ('28046_00') or bi.ProductID is not null)
ah, and if you always need join bvc_Order with bvc_OrderItem then use inner join

multiple sql joins not producing desired results

I'm new to sql and trying to tweak someone else's huge stored procedure to get a subset of the results. The code below is maybe 10% of the whole procedure. I added the lp.posting_date, last left join, and the where clause. Trying to get records where the posting date is between the start date and the end date. Am I doing this right? Apparently not because the results are unaffected by the change. UPDATE: I CHANGED THE LAST JOIN. The results are correct if there's only one area allocation term. If there is more than one area allocation term, the results are duplicated for each term.
SELECT Distinct
l.lease_id ,
l.property_id as property_id,
l.lease_number as LeaseNumber,
l.name as LeaseName,
lty.name as LeaseType,
lst.name as LeaseStatus,
l.possession_date as PossessionDate,
l.rent as RentCommencementDate,
l.store_open_date as StoreOpenDate,
msr.description as MeasureUnit,
l.comments as Comments ,
lat.start_date as atStartDate,
lat.end_date as atEndDate,
lat.rentable_area as Rentable,
lat.usable_area as Usable,
laat.start_date as aatStartDate,
laat.end_date as aatEndDate,
MK.Path as OrgPath,
CAST(laa.percentage as numeric(9,2)) as Percentage,
laa.rentable_area as aaRentable,
laa.usable_area as aaUsable,
laa.headcounts as Headcount,
laa.area_allocation_term_id,
lat.area_term_id,
laa.area_allocation_id,
lp.posting_date
INTO #LEASES FROM la_tbl_lease l
INNER JOIN #LEASEID on l.lease_id=#LEASEID.lease_id
INNER JOIN la_tbl_lease_term lt on lt.lease_id=l.lease_id and lt.IsDeleted=0
LEFT JOIN la_tlu_lease_type lty on lty.lease_type_id=l.lease_type_id and lty.IsDeleted=0
LEFT JOIN la_tlu_lease_status lst on lst.status_id= l.status_id
LEFT JOIN la_tbl_area_group lag on lag.lease_id=l.lease_id
LEFT JOIN fnd_tlu_unit_measure msr on msr.unit_measure_key=lag.unit_measure_key
LEFT JOIN la_tbl_area_term lat on lat.lease_id=l.lease_id and lat.isDeleted=0
LEFT JOIN la_tbl_area_allocat_term laat on laat.area_term_id=lat.area_term_id and laat.isDeleted=0
LEFT JOIN dbo.la_tbl_area_allocation laa on laa.area_allocation_term_id=laat.area_allocation_term_id and laa.isDeleted=0
LEFT JOIN vw_FND_TLU_Menu_Key MK on menu_type_id_key=2 and isActive=1 and id=laa.menu_id_key
INNER JOIN la_tbl_lease_projection lp on lp.lease_projection_id = #LEASEID.lease_projection_id
where lp.posting_date <= laat.end_date and lp.posting_date >= laat.start_date
As may have already been hinted at you should be careful when using the WHERE clause with an OUTER JOIN.
The idea of the OUTER JOIN is to optionally join that table and provide access to the columns.
The JOINS will generate your set and then the WHERE clause will run to restrict your set. If you are using a condition in the WHERE clause that says one of the columns in your outer joined table must exist / equal a value then by the nature of your query you are no longer doing a LEFT JOIN since you are only retrieving rows where that join occurs.
Shorten it and copy it out as a new query in ssms or whatever you are using for testing. Use an inner join unless you want to preserve the left side set even when there is no matching lp.lease_id. Try something like
if object_id('tempdb..#leases) is not null
drop table #leases;
select distinct
l.lease_id
,l.property_id as property_id
,lp.posting_date
into #leases
from la_tbl_lease as l
inner join la_tbl_lease_projection as lp on lp.lease_id = l.lease_id
where lp.posting_date <= laat.end_date and lp.posting_date >= laat.start_date
select * from #leases
drop table #leases
If this gets what you want then you can work from there and add the other left joins to the query (getting rid of the select * and 'drop table' if you copy it back into your proc). If it doesn't then look at your Boolean date logic or provide more detail for us. If you are new to sql and its procedural extensions, try using the object explorer to examine the properties of the columns you are querying, and try selecting the top 1000 * from the tables you are using to get a feel for what the data looks like when building queries. -Mike
You can try the BETWEEN operator as well
Where lp.posting_date BETWEEN laat.start_date AND laat.end_date
Reasoning: You can have issues wheres there is no matching values in a table. In that instance on a left join the table will populate with null. Using the 'BETWEEN' operator insures that all returns have a value that is between the range and no nulls can slip in.
As it turns out, the problem was easier to solve and it was in a different place in the stored procedure. All I had to do was add one line to one of the cursors to include area term allocations by date.

INNER JOIN should happen only when a condition is fulfilled

I am trying to "short-circuit" an INNER JOIN, if condition isn't met.
What I tried:
I found that if a Left Join is preceded with a False clause on "ON" condition, the LEFT JOIN fails. Hence, I tried to simulate INNER JOIN with LEFT OUTER JOIN and WHERE clause got the execution plan as below:
DECLARE #a nvarchar(4) = 'All'
SELECT A.*
FROM [dbo].[your_table] A
LEFT JOIN [dbo].[your_table_2] B
ON #a <> 'All'
WHERE A.City_Code = CASE WHEN #a <> 'All'
THEN B.City_Code
ELSE A.City_Code END
This will "short-circuit" the left join and it will never occur. Execution plan is below:
But then when I tried to execute the same statement by declaring the variable as 'Al' and not 'All', I saw execution plan was still the same.
I am puzzled if Join happened in the initial step or not?
What I want:
I want to know whether the above approach is correct? Is it really short-circuiting the INNER JOIN?
I basically want the INNER JOIN to happen between the two tables only when variable is not 'All' else it should not JOIN and continue further. I have already tried by using "OR" (to short-circuit) and "IN" (to apply filter) but the performance slows down if you have too many items in IN clause.
Please help me and do tell me if I was wrong anywhere in my approach.
Sample Data:
I should get the INNER JOIN result only when variable <> 'all'
When variable = 'All', I should get table A i.e.
Note: I have simplified this query hence it appears that simple if statement can do. In actual I have 53 parameters that I need to check and run JOINS. Plus result set of one query must be joined with another i.e. I have several other JOIN conditions preceding this :)
Have you tried something like
SELECT A.*
FROM [dbo].[your_table] A
WHERE EXISTS (
SELECT 1
FROM [dbo].[your_table_2] B
WHERE A.City_Code = B.City_Code
)
OR #a = 'All'
Did you try case statement? The CASE or DECODE is usually like an IF-ELSE statement in the SQL.

SQL: LEFT JOIN > If the ON condition fails are the conditions in the WHERE statement disregarded?

If you use a LEFT JOIN and also have a WHERE clause, are all the conditions in the WHERE clause being disregarded if the table that you tried to join does not exist?
In other words, do I have to specifically compare against the id from the LEFT JOIN?
SELECT distinct(watchedItems.id)
FROM globalItems, watchedItems
LEFT JOIN bidGroups ON bidGroups.bidGroupID = watchedItems.bidGroupID
WHERE
watchedItems.aid = globalItems.aid
AND watchedItems.processRunning = 0
(watchedItems.bidGroupID IS NULL
OR (watchedItems.bidGroupID IS NOT NULL AND bidGroups.bidGroupQty > 0))
Could I write instead of the entire last bit just
AND bidGroups.bidGroupQty > 0
and it will not be tested because bidGroups does not exist if the LEFT JOIN fails? I know that without the LEFT JOIN it will definitely test against it all the time, which means if this test fails, the entire statement is not executed. But I want it to be executed in any case (with and without bidGroups.)
If the table doesn't exist your statement won't parse and will result in a SQL exception.
EDIT
I'd write your query this way, for readability:
SELECT distinct(watchedItems.id)
FROM globalItems INNER JOIN
watchedItems ON globalItems.aid = watchedItems.aid LEFT JOIN
bidGroups ON bidGroups.bidGroupID = watchedItems.bidGroupID
WHERE
watchedItems.processRunning = 0
AND (watchedItems.bidGroupID IS NULL
OR (watchedItems.bidGroupID IS NOT NULL
AND bidGroups.bidGroupQty > 0)
);
The answer to whether you need to check watchedItems.bigGroupID IS NOT NULL is no, you do not have to as the join condition already covers that.
First, I wouldn't mix syntax; the , and JOIN mix is a head ache :) Then move the conditions into the LEFT JOIN instead of the WHERE clause?
SELECT
distinct(watchedItems.id)
FROM
globalItems
INNER JOIN
watchedItems
ON watchedItems.aid = globalItems.aid
LEFT JOIN
bidGroups
ON bidGroups.bidGroupID = watchedItems.bidGroupID
AND bidGroups.bidGroupQty > 0
WHERE
watchedItems.processRunning = 0
If left join fails, columns from the missing row all will have value of null, so your test bidGroups.bidGroupQty will always fail. If you want the test to succeed on missing row from left join, the longer logic you have is correct.
The conditions in the where clause are always enforced as written, so you either need to added the null-test logic or move the filter conditions for the outer join to a sub-query. Personally, I'd rewrite your query like so:
SELECT DISTINCT (watcheditems.id)
FROM globalitems
INNER JOIN watcheditems
ON watcheditems.aid = globalitems.aid
LEFT JOIN (SELECT bidgroupid
FROM bidgroups
WHERE bidgroups.bidgroupqty > 0) bg
ON bg.bidgroupid = watcheditems.bidgroupid
WHERE watcheditems.processrunning = 0
The other change I made was to move your inner join into the from clause. Generally, it's a better practice to use the SQL99 standard of putting the joins in the from clause, but whichever method you choose to use, you should be consistent. Putting joins in both the where clause and the from clause is just going to lead to confusion.