Oracle DB quote column names - sql

Question

When using regular tables, its fine to use the following Oracle SQL query:
SELECT max(some_primary_key) FROM MyTable
However, when using Database Objects (i.e. a table of an object), this yields to the following error:
ORA-00904: "SOME_PRIMARY_KEY": invalid identifier
When quoting the column name, like this:
SELECT max("some_primary_key") FROM MyTable
This works like expected. Why is it necessary to escape column names when working with Objects, but not with Tables?

Answer 1

It doesn't have to do with objects or tables, it has to do with how these objects/tables have been created.
If you do
create table "blabla" then you always need to address this table with "blabla", if you do create table blabla then you can address this table via BLABLA or blabla or bLabLa. Using " " makes the name case sensitive and that is the reason why most developers don't use " " because usually you don't want case sensitive names .

Answer 2

Database Object Naming Rules
Every database object has a name. In a SQL statement, you represent
the name of an object with a quoted identifier or a nonquoted
identifier.
A quoted identifier begins and ends with double quotation marks ("). If you name a schema object using a quoted identifier, then you
must use the double quotation marks whenever you refer to that object.
A nonquoted identifier is not surrounded by any punctuation.
You can use either quoted or nonquoted identifiers to name any
database object. However, database names, global database names, and
database link names are always case insensitive and are stored as
uppercase. If you specify such names as quoted identifiers, then the
quotation marks are silently ignored. Refer to CREATE USER for
additional rules for naming users and passwords.
To summarize this
When you do :
SELECT max(some_primary_key) FROM MyTable
Oracle assume that your column was declared like this :
CREATE TABLE MyTable (
some_primary_key INT,
...
)
Seing the resulting error, it's not the case. You obviously declared it like this :
CREATE TABLE MyTable (
"some_primary_key" INT,
...
)
And you should thus always refer to that column using double quotes and proper case, thus :
SELECT max("some_primary_key") FROM MyTable
The bible : Oracle Database Object Names and Qualifiers

Answer 3

[TL;DR] The simplest thing to do is to never use double quotes around object names and just let oracle manage the case-sensitivity in its default manner.
Oracle databases are, by default, case sensitive; however, they will also, by default, convert everything to upper-case so that the case sensitivity is abstracted from you, the user.
CREATE TABLE Test ( column_name NUMBER );
Then:
SELECT COUNT(column_name) FROM test;
SELECT COUNT(Column_Name) FROM Test;
SELECT COUNT(COLUMN_NAME) FROM TEST;
SELECT COUNT(CoLuMn_NaMe) FROM tEsT;
SELECT COUNT("COLUMN_NAME") FROM "TEST";
Will all give the same output and:
DESCRIBE test;
Outputs:
Name Null Type
----------- ---- ------
COLUMN_NAME NUMBER
(Note: Oracle's default behaviour is to convert the name to upper case.)
If you use double quotes then oracle will respect your use of case in the object's name (and you are then required to always use the same case):
CREATE TABLE "tEsT" ( "CoLuMn_NaMe" NUMBER );
(Note: Both the table and column name are surrounded in double quotes and now require you to use exactly the same case, and quotes, when you refer to them.)
Then you can only do (since you need to respect the case sensitivity):
SELECT COUNT("CoLuMn_NaMe") FROM "tEsT";
And
DESCRIBE "tEsT";
Outputs:
Name Null Type
----------- ---- ------
CoLuMn_NaMe NUMBER
(Note: Oracle has respected the case sensitivity.)

Answer 4

I created one object in Oracle 11g:
CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE MyType AS OBJECT (
some_property NUMBER(20),
CONSTRUCTOR FUNCTION MyType(some_property number default 123) RETURN SELF AS RESULT
) NOT FINAL;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE BODY MyType AS
CONSTRUCTOR FUNCTION MyType(some_property number default 123)
RETURN SELF AS RESULT
AS
BEGIN
SELF.some_property := some_property;
RETURN;
END;
END;
/
---Created a table of my object
CREATE TABLE MYTABLE OF MYTYPE ;
---issued the statement.
SELECT max(some_property) FROM MYTABLE;
Its working fine for me without quotes. Not sure why its not working in your case. Whats your oracle version ?