Best Query

Sorry but I don not understand you are you asking.

If the columns in the join match between the tables then you will get all the rows.  That is the way joins work.

What I don't understand is what you mean by:   I only want to know if there is a match or not a match.

Can you provide some sample data and expected results?

Something like one of these?

select t1.*,  NVL( (select 'MATCH' from table2 t2 where t2.id t1.id and rownum = 1) , 'NO MATCH')
from table1 t1

or

select t1.*, nvl(t2.match,'NO MATCH')
 from table1 t1
left outer join  (select distinct id, 'MATCH' match from table2) t2
 on t1.id = t2.id

EXISTS or IN or an INNER JOIN will only give you the implicit "match" criteria.  To get "no match" you need to include the rest of the rows

I was making an assumption based on the original query that the join was what they were really only looking for matches.  You are correct that EXISTS wouldn't give the no match and the outer join would be the best way to go there.

is there a way to add a third table matching the same criteria as the second to the first
so there would be 2 more columns from a third table saying null or showing the match>

>>is there a way to add a third table

Probably.

Personally I have no idea what you are looking for.  There also appears to be some confusion between the other Experts that posted.

Can you not post sample data and expected results?

Agreed.  A third table should be able to be added, but I'm not entirely sure what you are looking for.  Sample data and results would be the easiest way to show what you are looking for as a final result.  Please be sure to include all 4 outcomes (assuming only 3 tables).

An "exists" test seems to me to be the approach wanted to meet this:

"so in table 1 I have 3 records- when I join to table2 I have hundreds" [but I only want 3]

& I don't see anything specific in the question that leads to a need for a string "match" or "no match"

However the added requirement has morphed the question a bit it seems to me
"is there a way to add a third table matching the same criteria as the second to the first
so there would be 2 more columns from a third table saying null or showing the match"

If you want columns OF table3 in the result then join table3 into the query
If you merely wish to test for the existence of a match then you can use EXISTS
If you wish to suppress "unwanted repitition" in the results then perhaps you need to use a GROUP BY

There is a broad and generalized set of possible solutions because the question is vague. To get a more definitive answer please supply "sample data" and, from that data, the "expected result"

Worked perfectly

what worked perfectly?

the accepted post doesn't offer an answer, only questions

SELECT t1.*
FROM   table1 t1
WHERE  EXISTS (SELECT 1
               FROM   table2 t2
               WHERE  t1.id = t2.id)

That answer, as acknowledged by the one who posted it does NOT give the requested results.

it helped me figure out what I needed.
as I asked the question!
Thanks
Kurt

I've requested that this question be closed as follows:

Accepted answer: 0 points for KurtRoss's comment #a41382640

for the following reason:

the solution I have found
Odd someone else would tell me it isn't!

it gives me the results I require!

it was what I needed- so it was the solution I required
Please Close this ticket