[postgis-users] Join gives too much data

[Clay, Bruce]

I am not sure if this is a good place for this question but here goes.
 
I have a table with 162 records of data including a reference ID and project_ids and a separate table with many more records with different information but also includes the reference ID.
 
when I perform a 
 
Select a.field_one, a. field_two, b.field_one etc
  from table_one a, table_two b
  where a.ref_id = b.ref_id and a.project_id = b.project_id
 
or 
 
Select a.field_one, a. field_two, b.field_one etc
  from table_one a INNER JOIN ON table_two b
  where a.ref_id = b.ref_id and a.project_id = b.project_id
 
I get more records back than exist in table_one
 
the ref_id is in table_b multiple time but each time there is a different project_id.
 
I can limit some of the repeats by putting distinct after the select but then I only get 162 records instead of the 162 records expected.
 
I get the same results in pgAdmin as I do in a postGis c++ call.
 
Is there a better way to write the SQL so I get exactly the same number of records as are in tabl_a
 
Bruce



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