If you’re getting an error that reads “An aggregate may not appear in the OUTPUT clause” in SQL Server, it appears that you’re using an aggregate function in the OUTPUT clause.
Aggregate functions are not allowed in the OUTPUT clause.
To fix this issue, remove any aggregate functions from the OUTPUT clause and try applying them to a table or table variable.
If you’re getting an error that reads something like “Cannot insert the value NULL into column ‘CatId’, table ‘demo.dbo.Cats’; column does not allow nulls. INSERT fails” in SQL Server, it’s because you’re trying to insert a NULL value into non-nullable column (i.e. a column with a NOT NULL constraint).
We can’t insert NULL values into non-nullable columns.
To fix this issue, insert a non-NULL value.
Continue readingIf you’re getting an error that reads something like “No column name was specified for column 2 of ‘SalaryTotals’” in SQL Server, it could be that you’re running a subquery or CTE, but you’re not providing a column name for an aggregate function, or for the XML or JSON result of the CTE.
To fix this issue, use an alias to define a column name for all aggregate functions and XML/JSON outputs in the subquery or CTE. Or if it’s a CTE, you can specify the column name using the CTE syntax.
Continue readingIf you’re getting an error that reads “Invalid column name ‘$action’” in SQL Server, it could be that you’re using the $action argument of the OUTPUT clause for an operation that doesn’t support this argument.
Or it could be that the operation does support the argument, but you’re referencing it with the wrong syntax.
The $action argument can only be used with MERGE operations, and it must be done correctly.
To fix this issue, be sure to only use the $action argument in MERGE operations and to reference it with the correct syntax.
If you’re getting SQL Server error 2715, which reads something like “Column, parameter, or variable #1: Cannot find data type SERIAL“, it appears that you’re trying to define a column to have a data type that’s not supported in SQL Server.
To fix this issue, be sure to use a supported data type for all columns.
Continue readingIf you’re getting SQL Server error 10713 that reads “A MERGE statement must be terminated by a semi-colon (;)“, it’s because you’re running a MERGE statement without terminating it with a semi-colon.
The MERGE statement requires a semi-colon at the end of it in order to correctly terminate the statement.
To fix this issue, put a semi-colon at the end of your MERGE statement.
If you’re getting an error that reads “An explicit value for the identity column in table ‘Dogs’ can only be specified when a column list is used and IDENTITY_INSERT is ON” in SQL Server, it appears that you’re trying to insert a value into an IDENTITY column.
Specifically, you’re trying to do that while the IDENTITY_INSERT option is set to OFF.
To fix this issue, either enable IDENTITY_INSERT before inserting the value, or omit the value from your list of values to insert (and let the IDENTITY column do it’s thing).
If you’re getting SQL Server error 1909 that reads something like “Cannot use duplicate column names in index. Column name ‘FirstName’ listed more than once“, it appears that you’re trying to create an index, but you’re listing the same column multiple times.
Each column can only be listed once in the index definition.
To fix this issue, make sure each column is listed only once.
Continue readingIf you’re getting an error that reads something like “The objects “employees” and “employees” in the FROM clause have the same exposed names. Use correlation names to distinguish them’” in SQL Server, it could be that you’re trying to do a self-join without assigning table aliases.
When doing self-joins, we need to provide aliases for the tables so that SQL Server can distinguish between each instance.
To fix this issue, be sure to use unique table aliases in your query.
Continue readingIf you’re getting an error that reads “Create View or Function failed because no column name was specified…” in SQL Server, perhaps you’re using a function or an arithmetic expression in the SELECT list, but you haven’t provided a name for the column.
As the error message alludes to, you need to provide a column name when doing stuff like that.
Continue reading