sql - Create a table based on a query -
the title may misleading, i'm unsure of way of phrasing it. query below works intended if little slow. however, when try wrapping insert into around query, locks database. table1 contains less 1,000 records , table2 less 1,500 records. the objective of query match records based on date/time groups contained in columns tables 1 , 2. crux of problem getting result set unique table can exported. this query variation of find here , may clarify intentions: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/office/en-us/1305b3a9-94c9-4e7c-a5fe-7b64a79600ca/select-closest-earlier-date . change rather looking closest date after, i'm retrieving closest day prior. select table1.*, ( select table2.column1 table2 table2.column1 = ( select max(t.column1) table2 t t.column1 <= table1.column1)) tempcol table1 are there alternatives can attempt break sql or option let run until it's complete? example of output: table1.id table1.column1 t.column1 1