def flatten(db, joins, flat_table, limit=None, start=None, **kw_args):

    '''For params, see mk_flatten_mapping()

    @return See return value of mk_flatten_mapping()

    '''

    tables = joins[:1]+[v.table for v in joins[1:]]

    mapping = mk_flatten_mapping(db, tables, flat_table, **kw_args)

    cols = [sql_gen.NamedCol(new.name, old) for old, new in mapping.iteritems()]

    run_query_into(db, *mk_select(db, joins, cols, limit=limit, start=start),

        into=flat_table)

    return mapping