How to Fix Common Errors in Snowflake

Galaxy Glossary

How do I fix common SQL compilation and runtime errors in Snowflake?

Identifies frequent Snowflake SQL errors and shows how to diagnose and resolve them.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

Why do I get “Object does not exist” in Snowflake?

Snowflake is case-sensitive when objects are created with quotes. Referencing "Customers" as customers returns error 002003 (object does not exist). Always use the exact quoted name or create objects without quotes to make them fold to upper-case automatically.

How can I debug “SQL compilation error: invalid identifier”?

This error occurs when a column alias or table name is misspelled or scoped incorrectly. Use DESC TABLE or the INFORMATION_SCHEMA to confirm the correct identifier before rerunning the query.

What is the fastest way to locate the failing line in a multi-statement script?

Wrap the script in a Snowflake transaction and add VALIDATE() after each statement. If validation fails, Snowflake returns the exact line and column number, letting you pinpoint the issue quickly.

How to avoid “Numeric value ‘ABC’ is not recognized” during loads?

Set a strict FILE FORMAT with FIELD_OPTIONALLY_ENCLOSED_BY and use TRY_TO_NUMBER() in the COPY INTO statement. Non-numeric strings will convert to NULL instead of aborting the load.

Can I capture and re-run failed rows from COPY INTO?

Yes. Use ON_ERROR = 'CONTINUE' to land rejected rows in VALIDATION_MODE = 'RETURN_ERRORS'. Query them with RESULT_SCAN(LAST_QUERY_ID()), fix the data, and reload only the failed rows.

Best practice: enable statement-level error output

Set SHOW_ERRORS = TRUE in session parameters so Snowflake surfaces compilation and runtime messages without digging through query history.

Best practice: rely on INFORMATION_SCHEMA views

Views such as TABLE_CONSTRAINTS and COLUMNS reveal missing keys or datatype mismatches before they trigger errors in production queries.

Why How to Fix Common Errors in Snowflake is important

How to Fix Common Errors in Snowflake Example Usage


-- Example: fixing invalid identifier error
SELECT c.id,
       c.name,
       o.total_amount
FROM   Customers AS c
JOIN   Orders    AS o
  ON   c.id = o.customer_id; -- Ensure both tables exist and columns are spelled correctly

How to Fix Common Errors in Snowflake Syntax


-- Validate table structure before querying
DESC TABLE Customers;

-- Check for invalid identifiers
SELECT id, email_address -- should be email
FROM Customers;

-- Use TRY_* functions to prevent load failures
COPY INTO Orders
FROM @%Orders
FILE_FORMAT = (TYPE = CSV, SKIP_HEADER = 1)
ON_ERROR = 'CONTINUE';

-- Retrieve failed rows
SELECT *
FROM TABLE(RESULT_SCAN(LAST_QUERY_ID()))
WHERE ERROR_MESSAGE IS NOT NULL;

Common Mistakes

Ignoring quoted identifiers: Creating "Orders" with quotes but later querying Orders without quotes causes object not found errors. Create unquoted objects or always quote consistently.
Loading bad data without TRY_* casting: COPY INTO without TRY_TO_* functions aborts on first bad row. Wrap casts in TRY_* or set ON_ERROR to CONTINUE to capture failures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Snowflake support try-catch error handling?

No. Snowflake does not have PL/SQL-style exception blocks. Instead, use TRY_* functions, session parameters, and RESULT_SCAN to capture errors.

How can I see the exact error from a failed COPY INTO?

Run SELECT * FROM TABLE(VALIDATE(<table_name>, JOB_ID => '_last')); or query the RESULT_SCAN of the COPY command to review rejected rows.

Why do I still get errors after granting usage on a schema?

Usage on a schema lets users see objects, but they still need SELECT or INSERT privileges on each table or view. Grant the additional object-level rights.