= * statement in sql

Question

I typed and pushed something, and when I typed

=* 

in the sql window (2008 SSMS connected to server 2005), it turned blue as a keyword.

I can’t understand, or Google, what it does. I know * = but not = *

What does this operator do?

Answer 1

=* is an old way to write direct outer joins. For example:

 select * from A right outer join B on A.bid = B.id 

It is written in the old style, for example:

 select * from A , B where A.bid =* B.id