Syntax error (missing operator) when UPDATE in ODBC SQL

I know I am still learning SQL but I have run into a problem with an UPDATE query.

I have tried a few different variants of the query but I keep getting error messages similar to "-2147217900 [Microsoft][ODBC Excel Driver] Syntax error (missing operator) in query expression"

What do I do?

(I tried posting all of the failed SQL queries but when I did, Excel Forums security kicked me out and I lost several minutes of typing )


Attempt #1

Query

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Error Message

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Attempt #2

Query
Blocked. SUCURI CLOUD PROXY = "SQL injection was detected and blocked."

Error Message

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Attempt #3

Query
Blocked. SUCURI CLOUD PROXY = "SQL injection was detected and blocked."

Error Message

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Originally Posted by Kyle123

Attempt 1 is the closest, the other 2 are TSQL which I doubt will work on an excel file. Firstly, you don't need a from clause, you only have one table

Thanks for that, I didn't know. I thought you always had to use FROM for any select/update/insert query!

Originally Posted by Kyle123

secondly you do not need the "is not null" something cannot be null if it's false.

I can explain that one! The first attempt I posted wasn't really my first attempt. The 'IsDependent' can contain True, False or Null and I was hoping to do update InclHeader in one hit. After getting nowhere, I decided to focus on updating the False first. Hence the 'is not null' artifact in the 1st query I posted.

Originally Posted by Kyle123

Finally, drop the parentheses, they're superflous and not helpful when error hunting

This is refreshing advice! My teachers were strong on parentheses you see; and since then I have started guiltily dropping them when I build queries with multiple joins (I find it much easier to omit them in the FROM section in case I want to add another table to the query)

Originally Posted by Kyle123

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If you arn't using excel as your data source, then you need to tell us which db you're using

Hi Kyle, Thanks for posting the query to try but I'm afraid I can't get it to work. Instead I am now getting an error message "-2147217913 [Microsoft][ODBC Excel Driver] Data type mismatch in criteria expression."?

Would it be easier if I provided a test copy of my data source? See attached. (I have removed a few columns & sheets for privacy reasons - but their removal shouldn't affect the update query)

Originally Posted by Kyle123

Parenthesis are like anything, just use them where they're necessary, I suspect that your teachers keenness on them is due to access having a really strange syntax where multiple joins must be enclosed and won't work without doing so- afaik this only applies to access though

Kyle, I suspect you are right - on both counts. The teacher taught classes on MS Access as well as SQL. And I have used unenclosed multiple joins on SQL Server and on ODBC/Excel without any problems.

Originally Posted by Kyle123

If your fields are booleans then your true and false don't need to be strings - try just including as true/false

Hooray! The combination of this post & your previous post (#3) was the answer!

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This problem was really frustrating me. Thank you Kyle and enjoy your holiday! +1