Is there a way to copy data from table A into Table B if it does not exist in Table B?

Question

I have two table in two different servers, but the servers are linked. I would like to compare Table A from one server and Table B from the other. If table B has a record that Table A does not have I would like to copy that record and insert it into Table A. I have tried to use Insert Into Select statements, but I cannot get it to execute. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

I have tried to use Insert Into Select statements, but I cannot get it to execute.

INSERT INTO PHYSICAL_INVENTORY  (ITEMKEY, ITEM_NUMBER, WHSE_BIN_KEY, 
CONTROL_NUMBER)
SELECT T.ItemKey, I.ItemID, T.WhseBinKey, T.CtrlNo
from [Server B].prod.dbo.counttran T
inner join [Server B].prod.dbo.timItem I on I.ItemKey = T.ItemKey
Where ITEMKEY <> T.ItemKey

Answer 1

Maybe a NOT EXISTS is what you search for.

INSERT INTO physical_inventory
            (itemkey,
             item_number,
             whse_bin_key, 
             control_number)
            SELECT b.itemkey,
                   b.itemid,
                   b.whsebinkey,
                   b.ctrlno
                   FROM [Server B].prod.dbo.counttran b
                   WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT *
                                            FROM physical_inventory a
                                            WHERE a.itemkey = b.itemkey
                                                  AND a.item_number = b.itemid
                                                  AND a.whse_bin_key = b.whsebinkey
                                                  AND a.control_number = b.ctrlno);

(The WHERE in the exists can possibly be simplified if the tables have primary keys and it is enough to compare them.)