计算列上的 T-SQL 列别名 - 列名无效

Question

I'm using an alias to refer to a computed column. Here is a snippet from the actual code I'm trying to make work, to compute similarity and return matches where the similarity score is 3 or higher.

select [FirstName], difference([FirstName], 'mitch') as similarity
from [Dev].[dbo].[Name]
where similarity > 2
order by similarity desc

Exception Message:

Invalid column name 'similarity'.

As similarity is not a real column, how would I make this work?

Answer 1

Column aliases and computations are performed in the projection ( SELECT ) phase of the query, which occurs after the selection ( WHERE and JOIN ) phase. Because of this, they can't be referenced in the WHERE clause or in a JOIN condition because they do not yet exist. You can either use your query with the SELECT clause as a subquery or you can duplicate the computation in the WHERE clause:

select * 

from
(select [FirstName], difference([FirstName], 'mitch') as similarity
from [Dev].[dbo].[Name]) src

where similarity > 2
order by similarity desc

or

select [FirstName], difference([FirstName], 'mitch') as similarity
from [Dev].[dbo].[Name]
where difference([FirstName], 'mitch') > 2
order by similarity desc

Answer 2

All answers can solve your problem but for complicated situation you just can't duplicate your query.

The correct way is by using CROSS and APPLY

select [FirstName], similarity
from [Dev].[dbo].[Name]
cross apply
  (
     select similarity =
     difference([FirstName], 'mitch')  
  )computed_column
where similarity > 2
order by similarity desc

whit CROSS and APPLY you can use your computed column everywhere on the query

Answer 3

Try:

SELECT * 
  FROM (
        SELECT [FirstName], difference([FirstName], 'mitch') as similarity
            FROM [Dev].[dbo].[Name]
        ) a
WHERE similarity > 2
ORDER BY similarity desc

Answer 4

select [FirstName], difference([FirstName], 'mitch') as similarity
from [Dev].[dbo].[Name]
where difference([FirstName], 'mitch') > 2
order by 2 desc

You can't reference column aliases in where clause