RE: Help with SQL syntax

Well, the SQL Reference Manual states: >> An outer join between two tables treats the two tables asymmetrically. One of the tables (sometimes calles a "preserved" tables) is dominant and the other table is subservient. If the subservient table has no rows satisfying the join condition, the outer join attaches a row of NULL values to the row of the dominant table before projecting the desired columns. << In your case, this means that >> WHERE account.acc_name = temp.acc_name AND temp.acc_name IS NOT NULL << is the join condition, i.e. that if in temp exists a row where acc_name is null, you should get the NULLs for the temp-columns (or in your select: you get the row though the temp.acc_name is null). One way to accomplish the task you want to do could be the use of a SUB-SELECT: SELECT ... FROM account WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM temp WHERE temp.acc_name IS NOT NULL AND temp.acc_name = account.acc_name) Bernhard Rawein Alphatron GmbH Munich, Germany