Duplicate columns with inner Join

Question

SELECT 
    dealing_record.*
    ,shares.*
    ,transaction_type.*
FROM 
    shares 
    INNER JOIN shares ON shares.share_ID = dealing_record.share_id
    INNER JOIN transaction_type ON transaction_type.transaction_type_id = dealing_record.transaction_type_id;

The above SQL code produces the desired output but with a couple of duplicate columns. Also, with incomplete display of the column headers. When I change the

linesize 100

the headers shows but data displayed overlaps

I have checked through similar questions but I don't seem to get how to solve this.

Answer 1

You have duplicate columns, because, you're asking to the SQL engine for columns that they will show you the same data (with SELECT dealing_record.* and so on) , and then duplicates.

For example, the transaction_type.transaction_type_id column and the dealing_record.transaction_type_id column will have matching rows (otherwise you won't see anything with an INNER JOIN) and you will see those duplicates.

If you want to avoid this problem or, at least, to reduce the risk of having duplicates in your results, improve your query, using only the columns you really need, as @ConradFrix already said. An example would be this:

SELECT 
    dealing_record.Name
    ,shares.ID
    ,shares.Name
    ,transaction_type.Name
    ,transaction_type.ID
FROM 
    shares 
    INNER JOIN shares ON shares.share_ID = dealing_record.share_id
    INNER JOIN transaction_type ON transaction_type.transaction_type_id = dealing_record.transaction_type_id;