BUG: Select on a View May Generate Error 4409

ID: Q219413

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5

SYMPTOMS

If you execute a SELECT statement and in the FROM clause you have a view that is aliased twice or more, and this VIEW has a UNION in its definition, you may encounter the following error message:

Msg. 4409, Level 20, State 1
The columns in the query definition and the view definition do not match.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next SQL Server service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

Files


   Date        Time         Version    Size    File name      Platform
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/29/1999   4:04:20 PM   6.50.422   2.43MB  SQLSERVR.EXE   i386 & Alpha
   1/29/1999   3:10:06 PM   6.50.422   147 KB  OPENDS60.DLL   i386 & Alpha

NOTE: Due to file dependencies, the most recent hotfix or feature that contains the preceding files may also contain additional files.

NOTE: If this product was already installed on your computer when you purchased it from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and you need this fix, please call the Pay Per Incident number listed on the above Web site. If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, and if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested, no fee will be charged. However, if you request additional technical support, and if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support, you may be charged a non-refundable fee.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q154871 Determining If You Are Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem create the view by selecting all the columns from the tables.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 6.5.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, consider a VIEW defined as follows in the PUBS database:


CREATE VIEW writers AS
SELECT
   'LastName'  = au_lname ,
   'FirstName'  = au_fname ,
   'Address'     = address
FROM
   pubs.dbo.authors
UNION
SELECT
   'LastName'  = au_lname ,
   'FirstName'  = au_fname ,
   'Address'     = ''
FROM
   pubs.dbo.authors
GO

If the following statement is executed, it gives the above mentioned error message:


SELECT  w.Firstname, w1.LastName
FROM  writers w, writers w1
WHERE
   w.firstname = w1.firstname
AND
  w.lastname = w1.lastname

To work around this problem change the VIEW definition as follows:


CREATE VIEW writers AS
SELECT
   'Id'  = au_id ,
   'LastName'  = au_lname ,
   'FirstName'  = au_fname ,
   'Phone No'  = phone ,
   'Address'  = address ,
   'City'  = city ,
   'State'  = state ,
   'Zip Code' = zip ,
   'Contract type' = contract 
FROM
   pubs.dbo.authors
UNION
SELECT
   'Id'  = au_id ,
   'LastName'  = au_lname ,
   'FirstName'  = au_fname ,
   'Phone No'  = phone ,
   'Address'  = '' ,
   'City'  = '' ,
   'State'  = '' ,
   'Zip Code' = zip ,
   'Contract type' = contract 
FROM
   pubs.dbo.authors
GO

Additional query words: select view error


Keywords          : kbcode kbSQLServ650bug 
Version           : winnt:6.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 2, 1999