---
type: concept
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  schemaVersion: "0.1"
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  pageDirectory: concepts
  sources:
    - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
  confidence: 0.8
  provenanceState: extracted
  freshnessStatus: unverified
  aliases:
    - delta-error-sub-conditions
    - DES
    - Delta Lake Error Conditions
    - Delta Lake error conditions
    - Delta Lake Error Handling
    - Error conditions
  citations:
    - file: delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
title: Delta Error Sub-Conditions
description: The pattern of categorized sub-conditions (NON_CLUSTERING_COLUMN, NO_CLUSTERING_COLUMNS, UNRESOLVED_COLUMN, UNSUPPORTED_EXPRESSION) within Delta error classes to provide granular error diagnostics.
tags:
  - databricks
  - delta-lake
  - error-messages
  - diagnostics
timestamp: "2026-06-18T11:58:09.426Z"
---

---
title: Delta Error Sub-Conditions
summary: The DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES error class and its four sub-conditions, which occur when a command on a Liquid table uses unsupported predicates involving clustering columns.
sources:
  - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
kind: concept
createdAt: "2026-06-18T12:00:00.000Z"
updatedAt: "2026-06-18T12:00:00.000Z"
tags:
  - delta
  - error
  - liquid-tables
  - clustering
aliases:
  - DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES
  - delta-unsupported-clustering-column-predicates
confidence: 1
provenanceState: extracted
inferredParagraphs: 0
---

# Delta Error Sub-Conditions

The **DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES** error class (SQLSTATE: 0A000 — feature not supported) occurs when a command that operates on a [Liquid table](/concepts/liquid-tables.md) is given predicates that are not valid for that table's clustering columns. This error provides a generic message followed by one of four sub-condition identifiers that clarify the specific problem. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Error Message Pattern

The error message follows the pattern:

```
<command> command for Liquid tables does not support the provided predicates:
<sub-condition>
```

The `<command>` placeholder identifies the Data Definition Language (DDL) or Data Manipulation Language (DML) operation being attempted, and the sub-condition gives the reason. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Sub-Conditions

### `NON_CLUSTERING_COLUMN`

This sub-condition indicates that the predicate in the command references a column that is not a clustering column of the Liquid table. Only the columns defined as clustering columns may be used in predicates for the attempted command. The message includes the name of the non-clustering column and a list of the valid clustering columns. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

Message template:
```
<command> predicate references non-clustering column '<columnName>'. Only the clustering columns may be referenced when <command> is run on a Liquid table: [<columnList>].
```

### `NO_CLUSTERING_COLUMNS`

This sub-condition occurs when the command is run on a Liquid table that has no clustering columns defined. The operation requires at least one clustering column to be present on the table. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

Message template:
```
<command> command is not supported on Liquid tables without clustering columns.
```

### `UNRESOLVED_COLUMN`

This sub-condition signals that the predicate references a column that cannot be resolved against the set of clustering columns. Either the column name is misspelled or it does not exist among the clustering columns. The message lists the available clustering columns for reference. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

Message template:
```
Fail to resolve column '<columnName>' in <command> predicate. Available clustering columns: [<columnList>].
```

### `UNSUPPORTED_EXPRESSION`

This sub-condition indicates that the predicate contains an expression that is not supported for the given command on a Liquid table. The specific unsupported expression is included in the message. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

Message template:
```
Unsupported expression: <expression>.
```

## Related Concepts

- [Liquid tables](/concepts/liquid-tables.md) — The table type that enforces clustering column restrictions for certain commands
- [Clustering columns](/concepts/clustering-columns.md) — The columns on which a Liquid table is clustered; only these columns may be referenced in certain predicates
- SQLSTATE — The standard SQL state code system (0A000 indicates feature not supported)
- Delta Lake DDL commands — Commands such as `ALTER TABLE` or `OPTIMIZE` that may trigger this error

## Sources

- delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md

# Citations

1. [delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md](/references/delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws-b9f8e20f.md)
