Peoplesoft Query Outer join with MAX EFFDT

Question

I have this criteria in my PS Query
where A.emplid = B.emplid
and B.effdt = (select max( B1.effdt ) from PS_TABLE_B B1 where B1.effdt <= SYSDATE )
Need to do an OUTER JOIN for B.
Ie. If no row found in B, then return blank so that row in A can be returned by query.
It's OK for A.emplid = B.emplid(+)
But how to approach for and B.effdt = (select max ... ?
Please advise

Answer 1

If I remember it right, if you write outer joins using ( + ), there shouldn't be any other non-outer join criteria in your SQL, otherwise it will negate its being an 'outer join'.
so for your (1) this highlighted SQL block negates your 'outer join' condition
AND A.EMPLID =  C.EMPLID(+)
AND ( C.EFFDT = (SELECT MAX( D.EFFDT)
                         FROM PS_D D
                        WHERE D.EMPLID = C.EMPLID
                          AND D.ACTION_REASON = 'MAT'
                          AND ( D.RETURN_DT IS NULL OR D.RETURN_DT > SYSDATE))
            OR C.EFFDT IS NULL) )
you should see more from here http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b28286/queries006.htm#SQLRF52336
From that article, it says.. "If A and B are joined by multiple join conditions, then you must use the operator in all of these conditions. If you do not, then Oracle Database will return only the rows resulting from a simple join, but without a warning or error to advise you that you do not have the results of an outer join."
What I suggest, create a SQL view to replace C that retrieves exactly what C has to retrieve.. probably something like this
SELECT D.*
FROM PS_D D
WHERE D.ACTION_REASON = 'MAT'
  AND( D.RETURN_DT IS NULL OR D.RETURN_DT > SYSDATE )
  AND D.EFFDT = (SELECT MAX(EFFDT) ... )
and reference that new SQL view for C.. so that in your query, it should only look something like
AND A.EMPLID = C.EMPLID(+)
  AND( C.EFFDT =
  (SELECT MAX( D.EFFDT )
     FROM PS_D D
    WHERE D.EMPLID = C.EMPLID
    AND D.ACTION_REASON = 'MAT'
    AND( D.RETURN_DT IS NULL
    OR D.RETURN_DT > SYSDATE )
  OR C.EFFDT IS NULL ) )
Hope this helps