SQL - update table from another table - syntax error - sql

Question

I have two SQL tables:
matches (columns are hometeam, awayteam, id, gameweek)
teams (columns are teamcode, teamname)
matches.hometeam and matches.awayteam consist of integers that correspond to integers in teams.teamcode. I am trying to get matches.hometeam and matches.awayteam to update to strings that are taken from corresponding strings in teams.teamname. If that is impossible, then I need to create a new table as described.
I have tried the below code, but it produces a syntax error on the penultimate two lines (error 1064 (42000)). I can't figure out why.
UPDATE matches
SET matches.hometeam = teams.teamname
FROM matches
INNER JOIN teams
ON (matches.hometeam = teams.teamcode);

Answer 1

Error 1064 is a MySQL error. If you are using MySQL, the correct syntax is:
UPDATE matches m JOIN
teams t
ON m.hometeam = t.teamcode
SET m.hometeam = t.teamname;
However, this will not really work. What you need to do is add ids:
alter table matches add hometeamcode int;
And then do:
UPDATE matches m JOIN
teams t
ON m.hometeam = t.teamcode
SET m.hometeamcode = t.teamname;
EDIT:
I think I misunderstood the whole situation. Your data model is totally correct. The matches table should have the integer codes, referring to the rows in teams.
You just need to write your query to get the names:
select m.*, th.teamname as hometeamname, ta.teamname as awayteamname
from matches m join
team th
on m.hometeam = th.teamcode join
team ta
on a.hometeam = ta.teamcode;
If you don't want to do the join, then encapsulate the logic in the view.