Question

[Using SQL Server 2000]

I can’t believe a simple task is being this complex to write in SQL.

Perhaps I’m missing something.

Here’s the query that will not run because the column names are ambiguous:

SELECT serial_Number, system_id, date_time
FROM acp_parts ap 
INNER JOIN join test_results tr ON (ap.serial_Number=tr.serial_Number)
WHERE serial_Number IN (
    'C037687 1000 11', 'C037687 1001 11', 'C037687 1002 11', 'C037687 1003 11', 
    'C037687 1004 11', 'C037687 1005 11', 'C037687 1006 11', 'C037687 1007 11',
    'C037687 1008 11', 'C037687 1009 11', 'C037687 1010 11', 'C037687 1011 11', 
    'C037687 1012 11', 'C037687 1013 11', 'C037687 1014 11', 'C037687 1015 11',
    'C037687 1016 11', 'C037687 1017 11', 'C037687 1018 11', 'C037687 1019 11',
    'C037687 1020 11', 'C037687 1021 11', 'C037687 1022 11', 'C037687 1023 11', 
    'C037687 1024 11')
ORDER BY serial_Number, date_time

I’d just like a simple table with these serial numbers in one column, what table they are in (system_id), and when they were logged (date_time).

I do NOT want a separate column for each table – that would defeat the purpose of my query.

This is probably something simple that I’m missing.

[EDIT]: Sorry! I should have added that serial numbers in one table may or may not be in one of the other tables, so I do not want to display ap.serial_Number, etc.

[Solution]: Here’s what I went with that solved my problem:

SELECT serial_Number, system_id, date_time FROM ( 
    select serial_Number, system_id, date_time 
    from acp_parts ap 
    UNION ALL
    select serial_Number, system_id, date_time 
    from test_results tr
) T
where serial_Number in (
    'C037687 1000 11', 'C037687 1001 11', 'C037687 1002 11', 'C037687 1003 11', 'C037687 1004 11', 'C037687 1005 11', 
    'C037687 1006 11', 'C037687 1007 11', 'C037687 1008 11', 'C037687 1009 11', 'C037687 1010 11', 'C037687 1011 11', 
    'C037687 1012 11', 'C037687 1013 11', 'C037687 1014 11', 'C037687 1015 11', 'C037687 1016 11', 'C037687 1017 11', 
    'C037687 1018 11', 'C037687 1019 11', 'C037687 1020 11', 'C037687 1021 11', 'C037687 1022 11', 'C037687 1023 11', 
    'C037687 1024 11')
order by serial_Number, date_time

Answer 1

So, the number will only exist in one table or the other? I think you want a UNION ALL. The following is not syntax checked, but should get you started:

SELECT * FROM 
(
select 
    serial_Number, 
    system_id, 
    date_time 
from 
    acp_parts ap 

UNION ALL

select 
    serial_Number, 
    system_id, 
    date_time 
from 
    acp_parts  test_results tr
)
ORDER BY serial_Number, date_time