ExactTarget - SQL Query Basics (Select column?)

Question

I'm new to ExactTarget and trying to write a query just to select columns from one table into another to ensure the syntax I'm using is correct and even this basic syntax is not working. Can you please help with how the query should be written?

I want to select the SubscriberKey and StoreName columns and update those columns in Table A which has the exact same columns. When I run the query below, no data is added:

select
s.subscriberkey,
s.storename
from salesorder s

Update

The Primary Key is "SubscriberKey".

SFMC Support noted that the error was because "StoreName" field was not set to Nullable. I've made the changes and the query now runs "without errors", however, only the SubscriberKey and ShopVisits columns are populated in the target Data Extension.

"Select storename" is included in the query but this column is not populated. Do you know what else is missing from the query?

Answer 1

This has been resolved with ET support:

• storename field needed to be mark as nullable (this was causing the error)
• syntax updated to include "where storename is not null"

Thanks!

Answer 2

Typically if Query Activities fail, it's one of these 4 things:

1. Primary key violation -- your query results in duplicate rows not allowed by the primary key
2. Inserting a null value into a non-nullable field
3. Inserting a value too long for the field (truncation)
4. Timeout -- if your query doesn't complete within the 30 minute timeout window, it'll error out.

Some Query Activity errors can be viewed in Automation Studio interface. If not, SFMC Support can tell you what the error is from the server log. Some SMFC Partners used to have access to the error log to investigate query runtime errors.