Apache Hive HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE

What is Apache Hive HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE

Understanding Apache Hive

Apache Hive is a data warehouse software project built on top of Apache Hadoop for providing data query and analysis. Hive gives an SQL-like interface to query data stored in various databases and file systems that integrate with Hadoop. It is designed to manage and query large datasets residing in distributed storage.

Identifying the Symptom

When working with Apache Hive, you might encounter the error code HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE. This error typically arises when there is an issue with the CREATE TABLE statement, which is used to create a new table in the Hive database.

Common Observations

The error message is usually accompanied by a description indicating that the CREATE TABLE statement is used incorrectly or with invalid syntax. This can prevent the successful creation of a table.

Exploring the Issue

The HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE error occurs when the syntax of the CREATE TABLE statement does not conform to the expected HiveQL syntax. This could be due to missing keywords, incorrect data types, or improper use of table properties.

Understanding HiveQL Syntax

HiveQL, the query language for Hive, is similar to SQL but has its own syntax rules. For a comprehensive understanding of HiveQL syntax, refer to the Hive Language Manual.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve the HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE error, follow these steps:

Step 1: Review the Syntax

Ensure that your CREATE TABLE statement follows the correct syntax. A basic example is:

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS table_name ( column1_name column1_type, column2_name column2_type) COMMENT 'Table comment'STORED AS file_format;

Refer to the Hive DDL Documentation for more details.

Step 2: Validate Data Types

Ensure that the data types specified for each column are valid and supported by Hive. Common data types include INT, STRING, FLOAT, etc.

Step 3: Check Table Properties

If you are using table properties, ensure they are correctly specified. For example, if using STORED AS, ensure the file format is supported, such as TEXTFILE, ORC, or PARQUET.

Conclusion

By carefully reviewing and correcting the CREATE TABLE statement syntax, you can resolve the HIVE_INVALID_CREATE_TABLE error. For further assistance, consider consulting the Cloudera Community or the Stack Overflow Apache Hive Tag for community support.