To configure or modify a join operation, begin with the Joins tab of the Query Statement Properties dialog box. When you create a new join, you must first highlight an existing attribute class and click New. You are then prompted to select a Join attribute in the General tab of the Attribute Class Join Properties dialog box. The attribute that is highlighted when a new join is created becomes the base attribute.
Join operations are automatically configured for you in both the General tab and the Criteria tab of the Query Statement Properties dialog box when you add attributes from more than one attribute class to the query. To modify an existing join, click the Joins tab, highlight the Join attribute, and then click Properties. When you view or modify the properties of an existing join, the highlighted attribute is the Join attribute.
When the query with a join operation runs, SMS searches for matches in both attribute classes. The results that are displayed for a join operation depend on the type of join you select. For more information about join types, including join syntax, see the Microsoft SMS 2.0 Toolkit.
Caution Join operations are an advanced function of Microsoft SQL Server. Before configuring or modifying a join operation, you must have a good working knowledge of the Structured Query Language (SQL) syntax that is needed to create various types of table joins. For more information about join operations, see your SQL Server documentation.
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