Using index in LEFT JOIN with OR condition

Question

Consider following query:

SELECT *
FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2 ON
   table2.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key
LEFT JOIN table3 ON
   table3.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key OR -- this is the issue
   table3.column_with_index = table2.column_with_index

while I check EXPLAIN it shows me index is not in use for table3 join (however indexes are shown in "possible_keys"). Type: 'ALL'. As per manual:

Join type "ALL": A full table scan is done for each combination of rows from the previous tables.

Query is awful slow.

But when I remove one of the conditions so it will be:

LEFT JOIN table3 ON
   table3.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key

OR

LEFT JOIN table3 ON
   table3.column_with_index = table2.column_with_index

Mysql is using indexes properly. In EXPLAIN result indexes are shown in 'keys' column, type is 'ref'. Queries are blazing fast.

What to do to make mysql use my indexes while using OR in join statement?

I tried LEFT JOIN table3 FORCE INDEX(PRIMARY, ind_column) but no success.

Answer 1

I can suggest you the use of the CASE statement,

Here is a similar question you can take and extend to your needs:

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Split your query into two queries, each using a different condition from the OR, and then combine them using UNION.

SELECT *
FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2 ON
   table2.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key
LEFT JOIN table3 ON
   table3.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key

UNION

SELECT *
FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2 ON
   table2.some_primary_key = table1.some_primary_key
LEFT JOIN table3 ON
   table3.column_with_index = table2.column_with_index