SAP HANA Keyword Compatibility Reference

Generated for GSP Java version 4.1.0.8 on 2026-03-15

This page was generated using hybrid static extraction from parser source files combined with runtime validation against the actual GSP parser. Re-run the extraction script after parser updates to keep this page current.

Keyword-as-Column-Name Support

As of version 4.1.0.8, the GSP SAP HANA parser includes a lexer lookahead mechanism that allows 31 vendor-unreserved keywords to be used as unquoted column names in SELECT statements.

The lookahead pre-scans the token list before parsing and converts context-specific keywords to identifiers when they appear in column-name position:

• After: SELECT, ,, DISTINCT, or ALL
• Before: FROM, AS, WHERE, GROUP, ORDER, HAVING, LIMIT, UNION, INTERSECT, EXCEPT, INTO, ,, ), or ;

-- Works: keyword as column name
SELECT array FROM t;

-- Works: keyword as column name
SELECT auto_corr FROM t;

-- Works: keyword as column name
SELECT avg FROM t;

-- Original keyword syntax also still works

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Full Classification Overview

Out of 655 keywords recognized by the GSP SAP HANA parser:

Classification	Count	Description
Allowed	612	Can be used as an unquoted column name in both canonical contexts
Context-specific	33	Fails as SELECT keyword FROM t but works as SELECT t.keyword FROM t
Blocked	10	Cannot be used as an unquoted column name in either context

Context-Specific Keywords (33)

These keywords fail when used as bare column names (SELECT keyword FROM t) but succeed when table-qualified (SELECT t.keyword FROM t).

Keyword	Reason
ALL	SELECT qualifier
ARRAY	Type keyword
AUTO_CORR	Grammar keyword
AVG	Grammar keyword
CASE	Expression keyword
CORR	Grammar keyword
CORR_SPEARMAN	Grammar keyword
COUNT	Grammar keyword
CROSS_CORR	Grammar keyword
DFT	Grammar keyword
DISTINCT	SELECT qualifier
FIRST_VALUE	Grammar keyword
FULL	JOIN keyword
INTERVAL	Type keyword
LAST_VALUE	Grammar keyword
LEAD	Grammar keyword
LOCATE_REGEXPR	Grammar keyword
MAX	Grammar keyword
MEDIAN	Grammar keyword
MIN	Grammar keyword
NTH_VALUE	Grammar keyword
OCCURRENCES_REGEXPR	Grammar keyword
PERCENTILE_CONT	Grammar keyword
PERCENTILE_DISC	Grammar keyword
RANK	Grammar keyword
REPLACE_REGEXPR	Grammar keyword
STRING_AGG	Grammar keyword
SUBSTRING_REGEXPR	Grammar keyword
SUBSTR_REGEXPR	Grammar keyword
SUM	Grammar keyword
TOP	SELECT qualifier
UNION	Clause keyword
VAR	Grammar keyword

Blocked Keywords (10)

These keywords cannot be used as unquoted column names in either context.

Keyword	Workaround
CALL	SELECT "call" FROM t
DELETE	SELECT "delete" FROM t
EXPORT	SELECT "export" FROM t
FROM	SELECT "from" FROM t
IMPORT	SELECT "import" FROM t
INSERT	SELECT "insert" FROM t
ROLLBACK	SELECT "rollback" FROM t
SELECT	SELECT "select" FROM t
UPDATE	SELECT "update" FROM t
UPSERT	SELECT "upsert" FROM t

Workaround: Double-Quoted Identifiers

For any keyword that fails as an unquoted column name, you can use double-quoted identifiers:

-- Blocked or context-specific keyword as column name
SELECT "call" FROM t;

-- Or use table qualification for context-specific keywords
SELECT t.all FROM t;

Scope and Limitations

• Tested contexts: SELECT keyword FROM t and SELECT t.keyword FROM t. Other contexts (DDL column definitions, INSERT column lists, aliases) may behave differently.
• Version-specific: This report reflects GSP Java version 4.1.0.8.
• Case sensitivity: Keywords are case-insensitive. select, SELECT, and Select are all treated the same.

How to Report Discrepancies

If you encounter a keyword that behaves differently from what this page describes, please report it through your support channel. Include:

1. The exact SQL statement
2. The GSP parser version
3. Whether the same SQL works in SAP HANA

Methodology

1. Static extraction: A Python script parses the lexer (.cod) and grammar (.y) source files to identify all 655 keywords and their grammar classifications.
2. Runtime validation: A Java test harness validates every classification against actual TGSqlParser runtime behavior.
3. JSON dataset: The authoritative data is stored in docs/generated/hana_keyword_compatibility.json.