SQL UPDATE 'The Column 'ID' was specified multiple times for 'a' - sql

Question

I am fairly new to SQL and I'm having trouble finding out how to fix this error. I understand that I'll get the error because I'm pulling the same column name twice from the same table, so I've created different aliases for the tables.
What I am trying to do is update a table in my database using a query to pull data from a linked server.
Here is a sample:
UPDATE [Database].dbo.T1
SET
T1.Status = item.Status,
T1.CategoryA = c.DESC_TEXT,
T1.CategoryB = d.DESC_TEXT
FROM
(SELECT c.DESC_TEXT, d.DESC_TEXT
inner join CSM_CODE c ON c.DESC_CD = item.ParCat and c.DESC_TYPE = 'PARCAT'
inner join CSM_CODE d ON d.DESC_CD = item.ChCat and d.DESC_TYPE = 'CHCAT'
WHERE
T1.Status = 'NEW')) A
WHERE [Database].dbo.T1.ID = A.ID
Here is my exact error:
The column 'DESC_TEXT' was specified multiple times for 'A'
So I don't know what to do about the aliases in my subquery for this update. Any help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Thank you all for helping figure this out. I now know why I was still receiving errors. Once I created the alias within my sub query, I had failed to update that alias in the SET.
UPDATE [database].dbo.T1
SET
[STATUS] = A.[STATUS],
[Scrum Team] = A.team_name,
[Parent Category] = A.prodparcat,
[Child Category] = A.prodcat
FROM
(SELECT
item.SEQ_ID,
item.STATUS,
c.DESC_TEXT prodparcat,
d.DESC_TEXT prodcat
FROM item
inner join csm_code c ON c.DESC_CD = item.parent_cat_cd and c.DESC_TYPE = 'PRODPARCAT'
inner join CSM_CODE d ON d.DESC_CD = item.prod_cat and d.DESC_TYPE = 'PRODCAT'
WHERE
item.STATUS = 'NEW' ) A
WHERE
[database.dbo.T1.[external ID] = A.SEQ_ID
It's also important to note that I was querying a linked server which required some creativity with my alias. Overall a great learning experience.
Thanks again!

Answer 2

Instead of FROM it should be a update-join construct like below. Also use column alias name for the duplicated columns.
UPDATE [Database].dbo.T1
SET
T1.Status = item.Status,
T1.CategoryA = A.cdesk,
T1.CategoryB = A.ddesk
JOIN
(SELECT c.DESC_TEXT as cdesk, d.DESC_TEXT as ddesk
FROM item
inner join CSM_CODE c ON c.DESC_CD = item.ParCat and c.DESC_TYPE = 'PARCAT'
inner join CSM_CODE d ON d.DESC_CD = item.ChCat and d.DESC_TYPE = 'CHCAT'
WHERE T1.Status = 'NEW')) A
ON [Database].dbo.T1.ID = A.ID

Answer 3

You are combining a column named DESC_TEXT from two different tables into a single table, namely A in your case. In that case, you have to give these two columns different names, like DESC_TEXT_c and DESC_TEXT_d and update T1 accordingly.

Answer 4

I suspect you want:
UPDATE T1
SET Status = item.Status,
CategoryA = c.DESC_TEXT,
CategoryB = d.DESC_TEXT
FROM [Database].dbo.T1 T1 JOIN
CSM_CODE c
ON c.DESC_CD = T1.ParCat and c.DESC_TYPE = 'PARCAT' JOIN
CSM_CODE d
ON d.DESC_CD = item.ChCat and d.DESC_TYPE = 'CHCAT'
WHERE T1.Status = 'NEW';
As written, your code has multiple syntax errors. The two references to DESC_TEXT in the subquery are the tip of the iceberg. I believe the above is the logic you want.

Answer 5

You have specified DESC_TEST twice with
c.DESC_TEXT, d.DESC_TEXT
Try renaming to.
c.DESC_TEXT category_a , d.DESC_TEXT category_b
You'll also need an id in A to join on.
An example to give you an idea.
UPDATE [Database].dbo.T1
SET
T1.Status = A.Status,
T1.CategoryA = A.CategoryA,
T1.CategoryB = A.CategoryB
FROM
(SELECT item.status, c.id, c.DESC_TEXT CategoryA, d.DESC_TEXT CategoryB
from item -- added after seeing the answer.
inner join CSM_CODE c ON c.DESC_CD = item.ParCat and c.DESC_TYPE = 'PARCAT'
inner join CSM_CODE d ON d.DESC_CD = item.ChCat and d.DESC_TYPE = 'CHCAT'
WHERE
T1.Status = 'NEW')) A
WHERE [Database].dbo.T1.ID = A.ID
Untested