[SalesForce] wrong with this query? (Unknown error parsing query)

When I run the following query in query editor I get this error.

Error

Unknown error parsing query

Query

SELECT Id, OwnerId,Account.OwnerId
FROM Contact where OwnerId = Account.OwnerId limit 100

Does anybody know what the problem is?

Best Answer

You can't compare a field to another field in SOQL.

Salesforce has added a clear Knowledge Article to make that clear. From Field to field comparison in an SOQL WHERE clause:

Salesforce does not allow direct field to field comparison in SOQL query.

To achieve this you can create a formula field that will compare fields and return a value (such as true or false) which you can use in a WHERE clause.

Originally I also pointed to the documentation on fieldExpression Syntax (emphasis mine):

fieldName comparisonOperator value
value: A value used to compare with the value in fieldName. You must supply a value whose data type matches the field type of the specified field. You must supply a native value—other field names or calculations are not permitted. If quotes are required (for example, they are not for dates and numbers), use single quotes. Double quotes result in an error.

A common workaround is to create a checkbox formula to the same effect. Then just check if it's true in your query.

Related Solutions

[SalesForce] Issue with passing multiple input values to Like clause in SOQL query. Any workaround please

You can't do that with a like, you'd need to use OR instead:

Select Customer_Name__c From SAP_Customer_Master__c where Customer_Name__c like 'trimax%' or Customer_Name__c like 'thomas%'

EDIT

Something that I didn't know, that I've only just found out from trying it, is that you can use LIKE with bind variables. So, whereas the SOQL in the OP wouldn't work due to a compilation error, this would:

Set<String> names = new Set<String>{'trimax%', 'thomas%'};
List<SAP_Customer_Master__c> masters = [Select Customer_Name__c 
From SAP_Customer_Master__c 
where Customer_Name__c like :names];

[SalesForce] Why does the SOQL parser give a primitive message like ‘Unknown error parsing query’

I would suggest using Force.com IDE plugin for Eclipse, which gives you more detailed error message about syntax error. Also you can try use other third-party applications which allow you to perform SOQL like workbench or Schema Viewer.

I would agree that error from Developer Console is not the error which we would like to see, probably you can either log a case to Salesforce or suggest your idea to Idea Exchange about this.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[SalesForce] Issue with passing multiple input values to Like clause in SOQL query. Any workaround please

[SalesForce] Why does the SOQL parser give a primitive message like ‘Unknown error parsing query’

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