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selectsql-server-2008-r2select-query

Select Query giving error in sql server R 2?


I have a database called Inspection, and a table called User.

I first try to query it as follows:

select * from User ;

... and then like this:

select * from Inspection.dbo.User ;

Both of these are throwing the following error:

Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'User'

Why am I getting this error?


Solution

  • You need to use square brackets around the name of the table, since you use the name user.

    Since user is a reserved word (has a special meaning on it's own), it can not be used directly as a table-name.

    The square brackets tells MS Sql that in this case, [user] is the name of something a user (you!) have defined (namely a table), and not a keyword in an operation on an actual user, as in for example:

    CREATE USER slartibartfast (...);
    

    Update: More info about this here.