<p>MySQL raises error 1611 when a LOAD DATA statement references a column that does not exist or appears more than once in the target table.</p>
<p>MySQL Error 1611: ER_LOAD_DATA_INVALID_COLUMN_UNUSED occurs when a LOAD DATA INFILE or LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE command names a column that is missing or duplicated in the destination table. Check the column list, fix typos or duplicates, and rerun the statement to resolve the issue.</p>
Invalid column reference (%s) in LOAD DATA
MySQL returns the message "Invalid column reference in LOAD DATA" when a column in the input list is not found in the destination table or is repeated. Added in MySQL 5.7.8, the error stops ambiguous imports that could corrupt data.
The error appears when your LOAD DATA column list or SET clause contains an unused, misspelled, or duplicate column name. MySQL validates each reference against the table definition and raises 1611 on the first mismatch.
Verify every column name in the LOAD DATA statement. Ensure it exists in the table, is spelled correctly, and appears only once. Remove or correct bad names, then retry the import.
Scenario 1 - Typo: The script lists cust_id instead of customer_id. Correct the spelling and rerun.
Scenario 2 - Dropped column: The column was removed after the file was created. Update the file and script to match the current schema.
Scenario 3 - Duplicate reference: A column is named twice in the list. Delete the duplicate entry.
Generate column lists from INFORMATION_SCHEMA, keep ETL scripts version controlled, and validate schemas in CI. Galaxy's AI editor flags invalid column names before execution, preventing error 1611 pre-flight.
Error 1146 - Table doesn't exist: occurs when the target table is missing; create it or correct the table name.
Error 1406 - Data too long: triggered when input values exceed column size; widen the column or truncate data.
A misspelled column name in the LOAD DATA column list or SET clause triggers error 1611.
A column referenced in historical scripts was dropped or renamed, leaving an obsolete reference.
The same column appears more than once in the column list, violating uniqueness rules.
Raised when the target table in LOAD DATA is missing.
Occurs when incoming data exceeds column width during import.
Appears when a NOT NULL column is omitted and lacks a default.
Yes, both LOAD DATA and LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE validate column lists and can raise error 1611.
No, MySQL enforces this check to prevent data misalignment. Fix the script instead of disabling validation.
Galaxy's schema-aware autocomplete flags unknown column names in real time, helping you correct the statement before running it.
Error 1611 was introduced in MySQL 5.7.8 and exists in all later versions, including MySQL 8.x.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
