mysql: select all items from table A if not exist in table B

Question

I am having problem with selecting values from table a (id, room_name) where there are no corresponding events in table b (room_id, room_start, room_finish)

my query looks following

SELECT id, room_name FROM rooms 
WHERE NOT EXISTS 
(SELECT * FROM room_events 
    WHERE room_start BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200' 
          OR 
          room_finish BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200')

table a contains multiple rooms, table b contains room events I am getting no results in case there is any event for any of the rooms within the timestamps. I am expecting all rooms having NO events.

Answer 1

Here is the prototype for what you want to do:

SELECT * FROM table1 t1
  WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM table2 t2 WHERE t1.id = t2.id)

Here, id is assumed to be the PK and FK in both tables. You should adjust accordingly. Notice also that it is important to compare PK and FK in this case.

So, here is how your query should look like:

SELECT id, room_name FROM rooms r
WHERE NOT EXISTS 
(SELECT * FROM room_events re
    WHERE
          r.room_id = re.room_id
          AND
          (
          room_start BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200' 
          OR 
          room_finish BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200')
          )

---

If you want, you check the parts of your query by executing them in mysql client. For example, you can make sure if the following returns any records or not:

SELECT * FROM room_events 
    WHERE room_start BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200' 
          OR 
          room_finish BETWEEN '1294727400' AND '1294729200'

If it doesn't, you have found the culprit and act accordingly with other parts :)