# Left

The Join and Keep prefixes can be preceded by the prefix left.

If used before join it specifies that a left join should be used. The resulting table will only contain combinations of field values from the raw data tables where the linking field values are represented in the first table. If used before keep, it specifies that the second raw data table should be reduced to its common intersection with the first table, before being stored in QlikView.

Information noteWere you looking for the string function by the same name? See: [Left - script and chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/StringFunctions/Left.htm)

Syntax:

Left ( Join | Keep) [ (tablename) ](loadstatement | selectstatement)

Arguments:

Table load arguments

| Argument | Description |
| --- | --- |
| tablename | The named table to be compared to the loaded table. |
| loadstatement or selectstatement | The LOAD or SELECT statement for the loaded table. |

Example:

Example 1A

| Table1 | - |
| --- | --- |
| A | B |
| 1 | aa |
| 2 | cc |
| 3 | ee |

Example 1B

| Table2 | - |
| --- | --- |
| A | C |
| 1 | xx |
| 4 | yy |

`QVTable:` `SELECT  * 
 From table1;` `Left Join 
 Select * From table2;`

Example 1C

| QVTable | - | - |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | B | C |
| 1 | aa | xx |
| 2 | cc |  |
| 3 | ee |  |

`QVTab1:` `SELECT * 
From Table1;` `QVTab2:` `Left Keep 
SELECT * From Table2;`

Example 1D

| QVTab1 | - |
| --- | --- |
| A | B |
| 1 | aa |
| 2 | cc |
| 3 | ee |

Example 1E

| QVTab2 | - |
| --- | --- |
| A | C |
| 1 | xx |

The two tables in the keep example are, of course, associated via A.

` tab1:  ` `LOAD * From 
 file1.csv;` `tab2:` `LOAD * From 
 file2.csv;` ` .. .. ..  ` `Left Keep 
 (tab1) LOAD * From file3.csv;`

## Learn more

* [Join](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/ScriptPrefixes/Join.htm)
* [Keep](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/ScriptPrefixes/Keep.htm)
* [Inner](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/ScriptPrefixes/Inner.htm)
* [Outer](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/ScriptPrefixes/Outer.htm)
* [Right](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/May2024/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/Scripting/ScriptPrefixes/Right.htm)