• Why do you have data with leading spaces in the tables? Why have you not cleaned that data and removed the leading spaces? (and yes, you will need an LTRIM and hence a poorly performing query to do what you want)

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass