Fix “Create View or Function failed because no column name was specified for column” in SQL Server (Error 4511)

If 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.

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Fix “Cannot create index on view because it contains the DISTINCT keyword” in SQL Server (Error 10100)

If you’re getting an error that reads “Cannot create index on view “demo.dbo.vDistinctPrice” because it contains the DISTINCT keyword…” etc etc in SQL Server, it appears that you’re trying to create an index on a view that contains the DISTINCT keyword.

As the error message alludes to, this is not allowed.

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Indexed Views in SQL Server: A Complete Guide

Indexed views can significantly enhance the performance of complex queries in SQL Server. However, they come with several prerequisites and considerations that need to be carefully understood before implementation.

In this article, I provide an overview of indexed views, discussing their utility, prerequisites, and best practices, along with performance considerations and a simple example.

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Fix “Cannot create index on view. It contains text, ntext, image, FILESTREAM or xml columns” in SQL Server (Error 1942)

If you’re getting an error that reads something like “Cannot create index on view ‘demo.dbo.v1’. It contains text, ntext, image, FILESTREAM or xml columns” in SQL Server, it appears that you’re trying to create an index on a view that uses an invalid data type.

Not all data types are supported when indexing views.

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Get the Underlying Columns of a View Based on its Result Set

One of the great things about database views, is that they allow you to run complex queries without needing to know the underlying database schema.

Yes, it’s true that you need to know the underlying schema when you create the view, but you only need to do that once. Once you’ve created it, you can query that view all day long without needing to remember all the table and column names, etc.

Views typically combine data from multiple tables into a single, virtual table, which makes it kind of like a “black box”. As long as it works as designed, you don’t need to concern yourself with the hidden details.

But what if you do want to check a view for its underlying tables and columns?

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