SQL statement hanging up in MySQL database - mysql

Question

I am needing some SQL help. I have a SELECT statement that references several tables and is hanging up in the MySQL database. I would like to know if there is a better way to write this statement so that it runs efficiently and does not hang up the DB? Any help/direction would be appreciated. Thanks.
Here is the code:
Select Max(b.BurID) As BurID
From My.AppTable a,
My.AddressTable c,
My.BurTable b
Where a.AppID = c.AppID
And c.AppID = b.AppID
And (a.Forename = 'Bugs'
And a.Surname = 'Bunny'
And a.DOB = '1936-01-16'
And c.PostcodeAnywhereBuildingNumber = '999'
And c.PostcodeAnywherePostcode = 'SK99 9Q9'
And c.isPrimary = 1
And b.ErrorInd <> 1
And DateDiff(CurDate(), a.ApplicationDate) <= 30)
There is NO mysql error in the log. Sorry.

Answer 1

Pro tip: use explicit JOINs rather than a comma-separated list of tables. It's easier to see the logic you're using to JOIN that way. Rewriting your query to do that gives us this.
select Max(b.BurID) As BurID
From My.AppTable AS a
JOIN My.AddressTable AS c ON a.AppID = c.AppID
JOIN My.BurTable AS b ON c.AppID = b.AppID
WHERE (a.Forename = 'Bugs'
And a.Surname = 'Bunny'
And a.DOB = '1936-01-16'
And c.PostcodeAnywhereBuildingNumber = '999'
And c.PostcodeAnywherePostcode = 'SK99 9Q9'
And c.isPrimary = 1
And b.ErrorInd <> 1
And DateDiff(CurDate(), a.ApplicationDate) <= 30)
Next pro tip: Don't use functions (like DateDiff()) in WHERE clauses, because they defeat using indexes to search. That means you should change the last line of your query to
AND a.ApplicationDate >= CurDate() - INTERVAL 30 DAY
This has the same logic as in your query, but it leaves a naked (and therefore index-searchable) column name in the search expression.
Next, we need to look at your columns to see how you are searching, and cook up appropriate indexes.
Let's start with AppTable. You're screening by specific values of Forename, Surname, and DOB. You're screening by a range of ApplicationDate values. Finally you need AppID to manage your join. So, this compound index should help. Its columns are in the correct order to use a range scan to satisfy your query, and contains the needed results.
CREATE INDEX search1 USING BTREE
ON AppTable
(Forename, Surname, DOB, ApplicationDate, AppID)
Next, we can look at your AddressTable. Similar logic applies. You'll enter this table via the JOINed AppID, and then screen by specific values of three columns. So, try this index
CREATE INDEX search2 USING BTREE
ON AddressTable
(AppID, PostcodeAnywherePostcode, PostcodeAnywhereBuildingNumber, isPrimary)
Finally, we're on to your BurTable. Use similar logic as the other two, and try this index.
CREATE INDEX search3 USING BTREE
ON BurTable
(AppID, ErrorInd, BurID)
This kind of index is called a compound covering index, and can vastly speed up the sort of summary query you have asked about.