Sql error invalid column name

If you have been using SQL for a good time, you must have come across this issue, which is an invalid column name SQL.

If you have been using SQL for a good time, you must have come across this issue, which is an invalid column name SQL.

Those who are very much into coding and programming, know that this is not a big issue.

Such a minor issue can be solved by just re-looking the code in the column which you want to show in the table.

If you are a beginner and don’t have enough experience in this field, then in this post, I will discuss the below things to make your doubts clear.

  1. Meaning of Invalid Column Name SQL
  2. Invalid Column Name SQL: Reasons
  3. Why a column becomes invalid in SQL?
  4. Methods to overcome Invalid Column Name SQL error

Let’s discuss it one by one.

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What’s the meaning of Invalid Column Name SQL?

If you are a SQL user, you must have come across these terms.

  1. Table
  2. Column
  3. FROM Clause

This Invalid Column Name SQL error takes place when the column name that you have mentioned in the SQL does not match with the table which is mentioned after FROM Clause.

To show you, I would like to cite an example for better understanding.

Suppose there is a table.

The table name in SQL is student.

And, in the table, we have different column names such as name, mark, age, and address.

I write the below query as below.

select name,mark,aged,adress from student;

Have a look at the array and observe it closely.

If I run the above query, it will not result in anything but an error.

You might ask me why.

I want to again observe carefully the code.

It is written here that-

select name,mark,aged,adress from student;

Mark the word aged.

This exact word was not in our column.

As we mistyped the column name while running the code in SQL, we got an error.

We call it an Invalid Column Name SQL error.

Instead of that code, the correct code would be-

select name,mark,age,adress from student;

Here the word is age and we typed it correctly. There is also no syntax error.

So, what is the meaning of Invalid Column Name SQL?

It simply means that the column that you are referring to in your SQL does not exist.

  • It indicates that you might have misspelled a column.
  • It is also similar to the invalid variable name in different programming languages.

Invalid Column Name SQL: Reasons

Different people face this problem in different contexts.

The come reasons which might have led to Invalid Column Name SQL are given below-

  1. Your column may not exist.
  2. You have deleted your column.
  3. You have misspelled the column name.
  4.  The heading that you have put in the column is not in the required format for SQL.
  5. The column name which you have chosen in your query has changed.

These are the common reasons as to why you get an invalid column name error in SQL(Structured Query Language).

If you think that, you have a different reason other than those reasons which are mentioned above, let us know.

We will try to provide a solution.

Invalid Column Name SQL

Solutions to Invalid Column Name SQL

As I have mentioned earlier that this is not a big issue. So, the solution is simple.

Solution-1: Correct the Column name

In 90% of cases, this works as the best solution.

You just have to look again at your column name and correct it.

In the above-given example, I tried to make you understand with the column name error.

In our case, I types aged instead of age.

So, the result was an error in SQL.

We often call it with the following names.

  1. T SQL Invalid Column Name
  2. TSQL Add column
  3. Invalid Object Name in SQL
  4. SQL invalid column name

If you are someone who is wondering what is invalid object name is SQL, I hope the above example would have answered your question.

Solution-2: Correctly tag the table alias with the column

The SQL error occurs when you wrongly tag the table alias with the column.

So, what you need to do is to make it correct.

You just have to check whether you have correctly tagged the table alias with the column.

If not, do it to get rid of the Invalid Column Name SQL error.

Here is a video for your reference.

Solution-3: Check the Case of the column name

If you are someone who has experience in this field, you know that SQL is case sensitive.

So, you have to take care of these 2 things.

  1. Upper Case letter
  2. Lower Case letter

If your column name is of lower case and your query is in upper case, then that will result in an error and vice-versa also holds true.

So, the only thing that you need to do is to take care of the upper case and lower case letters in SQL to avoid such problems in SQL invalid column name.

Solution-4: Check if you are querying the right table

This is one of those common mistakes that most beginners commit.

Calling a wrong table will obviously result in an SQL server invalid column name error.

So, be sure that you are querying to the right table.

It may happen by mistake but you need to take care of this thing.

Solution-4: Check faulty spellings

This is the last method.

You just have to look once at your column, table, and query.

Check if you have typed anything wrong, which might have included numerical.

If you have typed something wrong, make a correction.

You are good to go.

Invalid Column Name SQL

Conclusion: Invalid Column Name SQL

This is a common error that many newbies face. Even some experienced people face it.

But by looking at the column table, this can be solved in a few seconds.

The solution is very much simple as we knew.

You just have to take care of a few things like spelling, upper case letter, lower case letter, numerics and etc to get rid of this error.

In a nutshell, you just have to follow the above methods if you are facing the Invalid column Name SQL error and get your problem solved. If you are a blogger and interested in knowing how to segregate a post into different pages, you can know here.

I hope this post would have helped you to some extent in solving your problem.

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  • Question

  • Hello,
    I am using Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and I am trying to connect to an SQL database. I have created the database with the following columns:

    id, first, last, phone, date

    I have created a binding source with a Data Grid View and I am trying to load the data. However, I am getting an «Invalid Column Name» error for NO apparent reason. Here is what my code looks like:

    SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(«Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\dsAllMembers.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True»);
    con.Open();
    if (con.State == ConnectionState.Open)
    {
    System.Console.WriteLine(«So far, so good.»);
    SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(«SELECT id, first, last, phone, date FROM tblMembers», con);
    SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
    command.ExecuteNonQuery();
    }

    I am 100% sure that the column names are spelled correctly and the database name is correct.  Any suggestions?

    Here is the actual error:
    Invalid column name ‘first’.
    Invalid column name ‘last’.
    Invalid column name ‘phone’.
    Invalid column name ‘date’.

Answers

  • when trying to read data, you dont use the «ExecuteNonQuery», you either fill the data returned into a datatable/dataset via the SqlDataAdapter or as you are doing, using a SqlDataReader.

    Are you also sure that the fields do exist? As well as place, place the square brackets around the field names and tablename to escape it from any special meaning for SQL (keywords).

    what exactly are you trying to do? Read data? Well, depending on how many records there are, you could use a SqlDataReader but if it is a large amount of data, you would be better of using a sqldataAdapter to fill a datatable with results, then say bind it to a datagridview to show the results to the user.

    going with the current code….lets try this…

    System.Console.WriteLine(«So far, so good.»);
    SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(«SELECT [id], [first], [last], [phone], [date] FROM [tblMembers]», con);
    SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior.CloseConnection);

    while (reader.Read())

    {

       object[] results = new object[] {reader[«id»].ToString(), reader[«first»].ToString(), reader[«phone»].ToString(), reader[«date»].ToString() };

       Console.WriteLine(String.Format(«{0}, {1}, {2}, {3}», results));

    }

  • that should have been CommandBehavior.CloseConnection…my apologies for that.

    its not finding the column name because it doesnt exist in the database and table you are trying to access.

What is an invalid column name sqlInvalid column name SQL error is not a big issue for experienced programmers. Typically, fixing the issues means carefully reviewing your code to flesh out the error. In this write-up, we look at the causes of this error and how to fix them, so, check the article to solve the issue as a pro.

What Is an Invalid Column Name SQL?

An invalid column name error in SQL means that the column name violates the conditions of the column name. If you reference an object that does not exist in the table or the name exists, but you did not reference it correctly, you will get this error.

– Valid Table Name Rules in SQL

A valid SQL name for columns, tables, and databases must follow the rules below:

  • Names must begin with an underscore (_) or an alphabetic character and must contain only alphanumeric characters
  • A name can contain but not begin with 0 – 9, @, #, and $. Nevertheless, names in double-quotes/delimited identifiers can have additional special characters.

– Invalid Column Example

This SQL error pops up when the column name you have mentioned in SQL does not match the name in the table you mention after FROM Clause. To get a better understanding of the error, here is an example:

Suppose you have a table in SQL, and its name is a student. This table has different column names such as Name, Score, Stream, Age, and Gender.

Suppose you write the query as shown below:

Select Name, Score, Stream, Aged, Gender from student;

If you execute the query above, it will throw an error. Take a closer look at the query again – observe each word and compare it to names in the table.

Here is where the problem lies – aged. This word is not in the column of the student SQL file. This simple mistype has led to the SQL error.

Causes of Invalid Column Name Error

This error can occur due to several issues, as shown below. Note that this error behaves similarly to the invalid variable name in other programming languages.

Common causes of this error include:

  • The entered name in the column is not available in the database. If the name is missing from the database, it will not work because SQL will not be able to retrieve it. This can happen if you save the table with a different name from the one you are using to code.
  • Misspelled name. When you misspell a name that SQL is supposed to retrieve, it will not be able to locate it; thus, throwing the error.
  • The column is not in the table altogether. Nothing can be retrieved when the column is absent in the table. So, ensure that you haven’t deleted the table.
  • Using double quotes/apostrophes. Double quotes are not commonly used in SQL, but it varies from one database to another. When dealing with columns in SQL, use single quotes (‘) only. They denote the start and the close of a string. Plus, they make a code more readable.
  • Your heading is not in the required format. Usually, display the header using the default format, and if you want to change them, use the COLUMN command. A column name must be short and cryptic. However, expressions are also used, but they are often hard to understand.

It’s worth mentioning that you can get this error if the chosen column name in your query has changed.

How to Fix Column Name Error

Fixing the error is clear-cut. Nonetheless, you can only solve the problem entirely if you locate the root cause of the issue. In this section, we will mention the issue and its solutions.

– Correct the Column Name

The common cause of this SQL error is an incorrect name. So, about 90% of the time, correcting the column name is the most efficient solution.

How do you apply this solution?

Carefully look over your column name to spot any incorrect names. In the example above, the name age was mistyped as aged, resulting in an error. Upon correcting the name, there want an error.

– Tag the Table Alias With the Column Accurately

You will get this SQL error when you wrongly tag the table alias with the column. The solution is simple, while tagging table alias with a column, ensure you are dealing with the correct ones.

– Check the Case of the Column Name

The SQL Server is, by default, case-insensitive. That means you can use either lower or upper case. But you can tweak settings to make it case-sensitive. So, if you are working with an SQL table, table columns, or database that is case-sensitive, check the case of the column.

Typically, the column name and the query must match in case. For instance, if the column name is in lower case while your query is in upper case, this throws an error. Similarly, the opposite will throw an error.

– Querying the Wrong Table

Querying the wrong table is a pretty common problem among beginners. Ultimately, this will throw an invalid name error. So, carefully select the table to ensure that what you are querying is the table of interest.

– Check Faulty Spellings

When SQL throws an error, check the spellings. The following areas are prone to spelling mistakes:

  • Table
  • Column
  • Query

A mistype may involve adding or removing a letter or even including a numeral. If you suspect something is mistyped, confirm from the original script before executing the code once more.

An omission such as an underscore (_), e.g., [Date Collected] instead of [Date_Collected], will cause a mismatch. Check the invalid column name SQL stored procedure. If the stored procedure has [Date_Collected] while the column name statement is [Date Collected], it will throw an error.

– Use Values With a Single Apostrophe

If your query has double quotes, change them to single quotes. SQL Server treats the double apostrophe as a delimiter for identifiers, such as a column name. This will throw an error when you execute a code. Also, enclose strings in single quotes too.

– Other Invalid Column Name SQL Solutions

The solution includes:

  • Attempt to assign a different table to the column
  • Using a different name for the column that may be present in the database
  • The bug sometimes might cause the error, especially if you use cross-platform database tools such as Azure Studio. So, when you come across the error invalid column name Azure Data Studio may be bugged. In this scenario, update to the latest version of Azure Data Studio. Usually, developers fix lots of bugs costly to ensure that you have an error-free working environment.

Sometimes you might receive an invalid column name ‘False’ or an invalid column name ‘true’. Usually, to get false, enter 0 and to get True, enter 1.

When you remove columns from the script that builds the table, remove the model properties that generated the script. Otherwise, you will get into invalid column name entity framework issues.

SQL Server Invalid Column Name When Column Exists In Table

Sometimes you might receive this error when the column is actually present. This could be due to having two tables with a similar name. The default schema of each database, i.e., the DBO schema, owns one table, while the default schema of the account that connects to SQL Server holds the other table.

Always resolve object reference when you have an unqualified reference to the schema object, e.g., a table not qualified by schema name. The best practice is always to qualify references to schema objects.

Other causes of this error could be:

  • You are not linked to the database you think you are connected
  • You are not connected to the SQL Server instance you think you are.

Double-check your connection strings to ensure that they explicitly specify the SQL instance name and the database name.

How Do You Change a Column Name in SQL?

When you rename a column, it will not automatically rename the reference to that column. Therefore, you must modify objects that reference the renamed column. The easiest way to change the column name is using the SQL Management Studio. This option of changing a column name in the tables has two options:

– Option 1: Object Explorer

  • Open the Object Explorer, and connect to an instance of the Database engine.
  • While still in the Object Explorer, right-click on the table you wish to change the name of columns and select rename.
  • Type a new column name.

– Option 2: Table Designer

  • Open the Object Explorer and right-click on the table you want to rename columns.
  • Select Design
  • Go to Column Name and select the name you wish to change
  • Type a new name
  • Click File menus, and choose table name

Note that you can change a column’s name in the Column Properties tab. Select the column you want to change its name and type a new value for Name.

Remember, making changes can lead to conflict in the SQL Visual Studio or SQL table. To avoid the invalid column name SQL Visual Studio lets you update the data model. Ensure that the update is successful.

Conclusion

SQL allows programmers to access data present within the database using different statements. In this article, we have highlighted a common error that occurs during the process of running quires in SQL. Here are the key points:

  • SQL stores data in columns and rows, and users can update, add, or delete the data in the database.
  • When updating a database, ensure that you add the database table
  • If you have the correct column name but the error persists, try to refresh the environment correctly
  • Always use single quotes in SQL because double quotes will always throw an error

How to fix invalid column name sqlWe have summarized the causes and fixes for SQL invalid column names. We hope that you can now resolve this error easily.

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  • Question

  • select  money1+money2 as ‘First’, money3+money4 as ‘Second’
      ,’First’ + ‘Second’ as ‘TOTAL’
     from person

    THE RESULT : «Sql Invalid column name»
    ———————————————————
    (Importent Note: i can ;

    select  money1+money2 as ‘First’, money3+money4 as ‘Second’
      ,money1+money2+money3+money4 as ‘TOTAL’
     from person

    but I want the solution of the above questions

Answers

  • Hi

    try below

    i think you just asking how to access the derived column with in same select statement, Answer is you cant

    there is a way to do this using CROSS APPLY (you can multiple Cross Apply as you need to derive columns) Third example is with Cross Apply ,

    Cross Apply(i am a big fan of cross apply)

    http://bradsruminations.blogspot.in/2011/04/t-sql-tuesday-017-it-slices-it-dices-it.html

    CROSS APPLY Explained

    http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1958/sql-server-cross-apply-and-outer-apply/

    CREATE TABLE #temp
      (
         money1 int,
         money2 int,
         money3 int,
         money4 int
      )
    
    INSERT INTO #temp
    VALUES     (1,2,3,4)
    
    --direct method
    SELECT money1 + money2 AS First,
                   money3 + money4 AS Second,
                   money1 + money2 + money3 + money4 as total
            FROM   #temp
    --derived table
    SELECT first , second,first + second total 
    FROM   (SELECT money1 + money2 AS First,
                   money3 + money4 AS Second
            FROM   #temp) a 
    --Cross Apply
    SELECT First,
           Second,
           First+Second Total
    FROM   #temp
    		Cross Apply( Values(money1+money2,money3 + money4)) CrossApplied (First, Second)
    • Edited by

      Friday, July 18, 2014 3:26 PM

    • Proposed as answer by
      SQL004
      Sunday, July 20, 2014 5:23 PM
    • Marked as answer by
      Elvis Long
      Friday, July 25, 2014 2:13 AM

    • Marked as answer by
      Elvis Long
      Friday, July 25, 2014 2:13 AM

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