This works fine: select (select b.dummy from dual b where b.dummy = a.dummy) from dual a; But this does not. select (select * from (select b.dummy from dual b where b.dummy = a.dummy)) from dual a; ora-00904 a.dummy: invalid identifier a.dummy seems to lose focus after getting nested twice. Is this normal? Using oracle 11.2.0.3 on Linux. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------ This email is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, or both. If you receive this email in error please immediately notify the sender and delete the email. ------------------------------------------------------------------