Query error with ambiguous column name in SQL

Question

I get an Ambiguous column name error with this query (InvoiceID). I can\'t figure out why. They all seem to be joined correctly so why doesn\'t the management studio know to

Answer 1

I think you have ambiguity only in InvoiceID. Other fields seem distinct. So try This

I just replace InvoiceID with Invoices.InvoiceID

   SELECT 
        VendorName, Invoices.InvoiceID, InvoiceSequence, InvoiceLineItemAmount
    FROM Vendors 
    JOIN Invoices ON (Vendors.VendorID = Invoices.VendorID)
    JOIN InvoiceLineItems ON (Invoices.InvoiceID = InvoiceLineItems.InvoiceID)
    WHERE  
        Invoices.InvoiceID IN
            (SELECT InvoiceSequence 
             FROM InvoiceLineItems
             WHERE InvoiceSequence > 1)
    ORDER BY 
        VendorName, Invoices.InvoiceID, InvoiceSequence, InvoiceLineItemAmount

You can use tablename.columnnae for all columns (in selection,where,group by and order by) without using any alias. However you can use an alias as guided by other answers

Answer 2

it's because some of the fields (specifically InvoiceID on the Invoices table and on the InvoiceLineItems) are present on both table. The way to answer of question is to add an ALIAS on it.

SELECT 
    a.VendorName,  Invoices.InvoiceID, .. -- or use full tableName
FROM Vendors a   -- This is an `ALIAS` of table Vendors
JOIN Invoices ON (Vendors.VendorID = Invoices.VendorID)
JOIN InvoiceLineItems ON (Invoices.InvoiceID = InvoiceLineItems.InvoiceID)
WHERE  
    Invoices.InvoiceID IN
        (SELECT InvoiceSequence 
         FROM InvoiceLineItems
         WHERE InvoiceSequence > 1)
ORDER BY 
    VendorName, InvoiceID, InvoiceSequence, InvoiceLineItemAmount

Answer 3

Most likely both tables have a column with the same name. Alias each table, and call each column with the table alias.

Answer 4

You have a column InvoiceID in the Invoices table and also in the InvoiceLineItems table. There is no way for the query execution engine to know which one you want returned.

Adding a table alias will help:

SELECT V.VendorName, I.InvoiceID, IL.InvoiceSequence, IL.InvoiceLineItemAmount
FROM Vendors V
JOIN Invoices I ON (...)
JOIN InvoiceLineItems IL ON (...)
WHERE ...
ORDER BY V.VendorName, I.InvoiceID, IL.InvoiceSequence, IL.InvoiceLineItemAmount

Answer 5

if you join 2 or more tables and they have similar names for their columns sql server wants you to qualify columns which they belong.

SELECT  ev.[ID]
    ,[Description]
    FROM   [Events] as ev 
    LEFT JOIN  [Units] as un ON ev.UnitID = un.UnitId  

if Events and Units tables has same column name (ID) SQL server wants you to use aliases.

Answer 6

Because you are joining two tables Invoices and InvoiceLineItems that both contain InvoiceID. change to Invoices.InvoiceID to make it correct.