---
type: concept
x-llmwiki:
  schemaVersion: "0.1"
  contentHash: 8ccb488d7f43787314c32ef7ea06a78ab5f3ff3aaa7f06b1650fae686e4e024e
  pageDirectory: concepts
  sources:
    - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
  confidence: 1
  provenanceState: extracted
  freshnessStatus: unverified
  aliases:
    - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-class
    - DEC
    - DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES error class
    - DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES error condition
    - delta-unsupported-clustering-column-predicates-error-class
    - DUCCPEC
  citations:
    - file: delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
title: DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES error class
description: A Delta Lake error class raised when commands on Liquid tables use predicates that are not supported, involving clustering column restrictions.
tags:
  - delta-lake
  - error-handling
  - liquid-tables
timestamp: "2026-06-19T18:28:28.872Z"
---

---
title: DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES error class
summary: A Databricks error class (SQLSTATE 0A000) raised when commands on Liquid tables use unsupported predicate references involving clustering columns.
sources:
  - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
kind: concept
createdAt: "2026-06-19T15:25:04.542Z"
updatedAt: "2026-06-19T15:25:04.542Z"
tags:
  - error-messages
  - databricks
  - delta-lake
aliases:
  - delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-class
  - DEC
confidence: 0.95
provenanceState: extracted
inferredParagraphs: 0
---

# DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES Error Class

**DELTA_UNSUPPORTED_CLUSTERING_COLUMN_PREDICATES** is a [Delta Lake](/concepts/delta-lake.md) error class (SQLSTATE: 0A000) that occurs when a command on a [Liquid table](/concepts/liquid-tables.md) uses a predicate that is not supported. The error indicates that the predicate references non‑clustering columns, that the table has no clustering columns, that a column name cannot be resolved, or that the expression itself is unsupported. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Error Subtypes

### NON_CLUSTERING_COLUMN

The command’s predicate references a column that is not part of the table’s clustering column set. Only the clustering columns may be referenced in the predicate for the given operation on a Liquid table. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

```
<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

The command is not supported on Liquid tables that have no clustering columns defined at all. The operation requires that a clustering scheme be present. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

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

### UNRESOLVED_COLUMN

The predicate references a column name that cannot be resolved against the available clustering columns. This typically indicates a typo or a reference to a column that does not exist in the table’s clustering column list. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

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

### UNSUPPORTED_EXPRESSION

The predicate contains an expression type that is not supported for the operation, even if it references only valid clustering columns. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

```
Unsupported expression: <expression>.
```

## Root Cause

Liquid tables in [Delta Lake](/concepts/delta-lake.md) use clustering as an optimization to improve query performance through data layout. Certain commands that operate on Liquid tables require that predicates reference only the clustering columns. This restriction ensures that the command can efficiently use the clustering metadata without requiring a full table scan. The error is raised when the predicate does not meet this requirement. ^[delta_unsupported_clustering_column_predicates-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Resolution

To resolve this error:

- **For NON_CLUSTERING_COLUMN**: Modify the command’s predicate to reference only the columns listed in the table’s clustering column set. Remove conditions on non‑clustering columns.
- **For NO_CLUSTERING_COLUMNS**: Define clustering columns on the Liquid table using an `ALTER TABLE` command, or choose a different operation that does not require clustering.
- **For UNRESOLVED_COLUMN**: Verify the column name spelling in the predicate against the available clustering columns listed in the error message.
- **For UNSUPPORTED_EXPRESSION**: Simplify the expression in the predicate to use only supported operators and functions.

## Related Concepts

- [Liquid tables](/concepts/liquid-tables.md) — The table type that enforces clustering column predicate restrictions.
- Delta Lake Clustering — The optimization technique that powers these restrictions.
- Delta Lake Error Classes — The error classification system this error belongs to.
- SQLSTATE 0A000 — The SQL standard error code for feature not supported.

## 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)
