Thread

1. Merging two queries and I get syntax errors

   Ibrahim Shaame <ishaame@gmail.com> — 2026-03-21T14:31:42Z

   I am trying to insert a new column in a working query. When I query I get
   the column correctly, but when adding that query to the main column I get
   syntax errors Here are the queries:
   
   1 - This one works perfectly:
   SELECT (((b.jina::text || ' '::text) || b.baba::text) || ' '::text) ||
   b.babu::text AS jina_kamili,
       b.namba,
       a.mlipaji,
       a.kiasi,
       a.imelipwaje,
       to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone, 'yyyy'::text) AS
   mwaka,
       to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone, 'mm'::text) AS mwezi
      FROM michango2 a,
       majina2 b
     WHERE a.mlipaji = b.namba
     ORDER BY ((((b.jina::text || ' '::text) || b.baba::text) || ' '::text) ||
   b.babu::text), (to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone,
   'yyyy'::text)), (to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone,
   'mm'::text));
   ******************************************
   2 - and this one works perfectly:
   SELECT (EXTRACT(YEAR FROM AGE(anza_mchango, CASE WHEN mwisho_mchango ISNULL
   THEN NOW() ELSE mwisho_mchango END))*12 + EXTRACT(MONTH FROM
   AGE(anza_mchango, CASE WHEN mwisho_mchango ISNULL THEN NOW() ELSE
   mwisho_mchango END)))*-1 AS miezi_deni FROM majina2;
   **********************************************
   3 - But when the second is merged in the first like this:
   
   SELECT (((b.jina::text || ' '::text) || b.baba::text) || ' '::text) ||
   b.babu::text AS
   jina_kamili, b.namba, a.mlipaji, a.kiasi, a.imelipwaje,
   to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp
   with time zone, 'yyyy'::text) AS mwaka, to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp
   with time zone, 'mm'::text) AS mwezi,  (EXTRACT(YEAR FROM AGE(anza_mchango,
   CASE WHEN mwisho_mchango ISNULL THEN NOW() ELSE mwisho_mchango END))*12 +
   EXTRACT(MONTH FROM AGE(anza_mchango, CASE WHEN mwisho_mchango ISNULL THEN
   NOW() ELSE mwisho_mchango END)))*-1 AS miezi_deni
   
   FROM michango2 a, majina2 b
   
   WHERE a.mlipaji = b.namba
   
   ORDER BY ((((b.jina::text || ' '::text) || b.baba::text) || ' '::text) ||
   b.babu::text), (to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone,
   'yyyy'::text)), (to_char(a.kwa_mwezi_wa::timestamp with time zone,
   'mm'::text));
   
   
   Here it does not work and I get the message:
   
   ERROR:  syntax error at or near "a"
   LINE 1: ...1 AS miezi_deni FROM michango2 a, majina2 b WHERE a.mlipaji
   
   and it point at a.mlipaji
   
   I would appreciate any hint.
   
   Thanks in advance
   

2. Re: Merging two queries and I get syntax errors

   David G. Johnston <david.g.johnston@gmail.com> — 2026-03-21T14:42:56Z

   On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Ibrahim Shaame <ishaame@gmail.com> wrote:
   
   >
   > FROM michango2 a, majina2 b
   >
   > WHERE a.mlipaji = b.namba
   >
   >
   > Here it does not work and I get the message:
   >
   > ERROR:  syntax error at or near "a"
   > LINE 1: ...1 AS miezi_deni FROM michango2 a, majina2 b WHERE a.mlipaji
   >
   > and it point at a.mlipaji
   >
   
   Nothing seems obviously wrong which leads me to suspect some nonprinting
   character issues.  Try writing/rebuilding the query in small increments
   until you get the error again then manually retype the last added chunk.
   Or just take the opportunity to use a more conventional explicit ANSI join
   syntax and move the join condition to the ON clause, getting rid of the
   where clause with the apparent issue.
   
   David J.
   

3. Re: Merging two queries and I get syntax errors

   Ibrahim Shaame <ishaame@gmail.com> — 2026-03-21T14:52:35Z

   Thank you David for the quick response. I placed the new column two columns
   before and it works. I just can't understand why it does not when added to
   the end. But anyway it works where it is now.
   Thank you again.
   
   Ibrahim Shaame
   
   On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 5:42 PM David G. Johnston <
   david.g.johnston@gmail.com> wrote:
   
   > On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Ibrahim Shaame <ishaame@gmail.com> wrote:
   >
   >>
   >> FROM michango2 a, majina2 b
   >>
   >> WHERE a.mlipaji = b.namba
   >>
   >>
   >> Here it does not work and I get the message:
   >>
   >> ERROR:  syntax error at or near "a"
   >> LINE 1: ...1 AS miezi_deni FROM michango2 a, majina2 b WHERE a.mlipaji
   >>
   >> and it point at a.mlipaji
   >>
   >
   > Nothing seems obviously wrong which leads me to suspect some nonprinting
   > character issues.  Try writing/rebuilding the query in small increments
   > until you get the error again then manually retype the last added chunk.
   > Or just take the opportunity to use a more conventional explicit ANSI join
   > syntax and move the join condition to the ON clause, getting rid of the
   > where clause with the apparent issue.
   >
   > David J.
   >
   >