mysql select statement not returning rows where some tables in query aren't populated

Question

I'm having a real mind blank - This code selects rows quite nicely apart from those entries where I change st.station_id from a value of '1' to a different (but still valid) number but where there are no entries for that station_id in either the station_owner_map table, the organisation table or the cap_gen_data_table. I basically need to amend my sql to ignore any table where there are no entries.

Select st.station_id, st.station_name , st.st_town, st.st_state, c1.country_name,   o1.organisation_name, som1.equity, st.river_basin, st.cost, st.cost_ref, st.comm_year,cg1.caporgen, ht1.hydro_name, cg1.value, srs1.srs_description, cg1.ref_year
FROM station st
inner join station_country_map scm1 on st.station_id = scm1.station_id
inner join country c1 on scm1.country_id = c1.country_id
inner join station_owner_map som1 on st.station_id = som1.station_id
inner join organisation o1 on som1.owner_id = o1.org_id
inner join cap_gen_data cg1 on st.station_id = cg1.station_id
inner join value_lookup vl1 on cg1.caporgen = vl1.id
inner join hydro_type ht1 on cg1.hydro_type_id = ht1.type_id
inner join station_record_status srs1 on cg1.capacity_status = srs1.st_rec_stat_id
where st.station_id = 1

Answer 1

It's caused by your inner join s. Inner join means there has to be a value in both tables for the record to show up in the result set.

Use left join instead, then only the table 'on the left' has to have a value.

Answer 2

Use left join on tables where the value may not be present.

If you have two tables A and B an inner join will only return the rows from A where the join condition is met. A left join will return all rows from A regardless of if the join condition is satisfied. Columns in the select statement associated with B will be null when a left join is used.

I have only added the left join to the tables you have indicated. If other tables may not satisfy the join condition change the join type from inner to left .

Select st.station_id, st.station_name , st.st_town, st.st_state, c1.country_name,   o1.organisation_name, som1.equity, st.river_basin, st.cost, st.cost_ref, st.comm_year,cg1.caporgen, ht1.hydro_name, cg1.value, srs1.srs_description, cg1.ref_year
FROM station st
inner join station_country_map scm1 on st.station_id = scm1.station_id
inner join country c1 on scm1.country_id = c1.country_id
left join station_owner_map som1 on st.station_id = som1.station_id
left join organisation o1 on som1.owner_id = o1.org_id
left join cap_gen_data cg1 on st.station_id = cg1.station_id
inner join value_lookup vl1 on cg1.caporgen = vl1.id
inner join hydro_type ht1 on cg1.hydro_type_id = ht1.type_id
inner join station_record_status srs1 on cg1.capacity_status = srs1.st_rec_stat_id
where st.station_id = 1