Re: JOIN column maximum

Lee Hachadoorian <lee(dot)hachadoorian(at)gmail(dot)com> writes:
> How is the number of columns in a join determined? When I combine somewhere
> around 90 tables in a JOIN, the query returns:

> ERROR: joins can have at most 32767 columns

It's the sum of the number of columns in the base tables.

> I'm sure most people will say "Why the hell are you joining 90 tables."

Not only that, but why are you working with over-300-column tables?
Seems like your schema design needs rethinking.

> I've asked this list before for advice on how to work with the
> approximately 23,000 column American Community Survey dataset,

Are there really 23000 populated values in each row? I hesitate to
suggest an EAV approach, but it kinda seems like you need to go in that
direction. You're never going to get decent performance out of a schema
that requires 100-way joins, even if you avoid bumping up against hard
limits.

regards, tom lane