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 SSMS know to display VendorID?

Query:

SELECT 
    VendorName, 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, InvoiceID, InvoiceSequence, InvoiceLineItemAmount

Answer 1

We face this error when we are selecting data from more than one tables by joining tables and at least one of the selected columns (it will also happen when use * to select all columns) exist with same name in more than one tables (our selected/joined tables). In that case we must have to specify from which table we are selecting out column.

Following is a an example solution implementation of concept explained above

I think you have ambiguity only in InvoiceID that exists both in InvoiceLineItems and Invoices 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

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