How to replace a complex SQL MINUS query with LEFT OUTER JOIN equivalent

Question

Trying to figure how how to replace the following, with equivalent left outer join:

select distinct(a.some_value)
from table_a a, table_b b
where a.id = b.a_         


        

Answer 1

I'm not convinced a left join is the way to go but I believe it would look like this:

select *
from
     (
      select *
      from a
      where a.CreateDate >= '12/1/2013'
        and a.CreateDate < '1/1/2014')December
     left join(
               select *
               from b
               where b.CreateDate < '12/1/2013')PriorMonths on December.Value = PriorMonths.Value
where PriorMonths.Value is null

How about a "not exists" clause?

TechnetArticle

S/O question about In, Left Join, and Not Exists

select *
from a
where a.CreateDate >= '12/1/2013'
  and a.CreateDate < '1/1/2014'
  and not exists(
                 select *
                 from b
                 where b.CreateDate < '12/1/2013'
                   and b.[Value] = a.Value)