#1242 - Subquery returns more than 1 row - mysql

Question

I am trying to make a select statement that selects the image names from a MySQL database. The table is called - pictures_archive. I am also trying to select these pictures depending on the category they have. The code is:

SELECT pictures_archive_filename FROM pictures_archive 
WHERE pictures_archive_id = (SELECT pictures_archive_id 
FROM pictures_archive_category WHERE pictures_category_id = 9)

It gives me an "#1242 - Subquery returns more than 1 row" error. I can see why, but can't figure it out how to do it.

score 28 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:32

28

Since your subquery can return multiple values, IN should fit in youy where clause.

SELECT pictures_archive_filename 
FROM pictures_archive 
WHERE pictures_archive_id IN 
(
   SELECT pictures_archive_id 
   FROM pictures_archive_category 
   WHERE pictures_category_id = 9
)

an alternative for this is to join both tables which is more efficient.

SELECT  pictures_archive_filename 
FROM    pictures_archive a 
        INNER JOIN pictures_archive_category b
            ON a.pictures_archive_id = b.pictures_archive_id
WHERE   b.pictures_category_id = 9

answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:32

John Woo

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1

Had been stuck with something similar.. Thanks so much – aashima Jun 24 '15 at 17:19
1

I tried alternative approach `JOIN` on a table which has more than 20 million rows (indexed), as it mentioned it work efficiently than using `IN` – gihanchanuka Jul 26 '17 at 07:03

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:31

0

Use IN instead of equal (=)

SELECT pictures_archive_filename FROM pictures_archive 
WHERE pictures_archive_id IN (SELECT pictures_archive_id 
FROM pictures_archive_category WHERE pictures_category_id = 9)

OR if possible use a JOIN between 2 tables

answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:31

Prasanna

4,583
2
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:33

0

SELECT pictures_archive_filename FROM pictures_archive 
WHERE pictures_archive_id = (SELECT pictures_archive_id 
FROM pictures_archive_category WHERE pictures_category_id = 9 LIMIT 1)

answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:33

PermGenError

45,977
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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:35

0

SELECT p.pictures_archive_filename FROM 
pictures_archive p inner join pictures_archive_category pc 
on p.pictures_archive_id = pc.pictures_archive_id 
where pc.pictures_category_id=9

answered Sep 26 '12 at 08:35

AnandPhadke

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#1242 - Subquery returns more than 1 row - mysql

4 Answers4

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