Sybase Keyword Compatibility Reference

Generated for GSP Java version 4.1.9 on 2026-07-29

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 Sybase parser includes a lexer lookahead mechanism that allows 3 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 case FROM t;

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

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

-- Original keyword syntax also still works

---

Full Classification Overview

Out of 456 keywords recognized by the GSP Sybase parser:

Classification	Count	Description
Allowed	413	Can be used as an unquoted column name in both canonical contexts
Context-specific	2	Fails as SELECT keyword FROM t but works as SELECT t.keyword FROM t
Blocked	41	Cannot be used as an unquoted column name in either context

Context-Specific Keywords (2)

These keywords parse in one canonical context but not the other (measured against the release stamped above).

Keyword	SELECT kw FROM t	SELECT t.kw FROM t
ALL	no	yes
DISTINCT	no	yes

Blocked Keywords (41)

These keywords fail as unquoted identifiers in both canonical contexts. Workaround: quote the identifier (e.g. "KEYWORD").

Keyword
BREAK
CALL
CHECKPOINT
CLOSE
COMMIT
CONTINUE
DBCC
DEALLOCATE
DECLARE
DELETE
DENY
EXEC
EXECUTE
FETCH
FROM
GOTO
GRANT
IF
INSERT
MERGE
OPEN
PRINT
RAISERROR
READTEXT
RECEIVE
RECONFIGURE
RETURN
REVERT
REVOKE
ROLLBACK
SAVE
SELECT
SET
SETUSER
SHUTDOWN
UPDATE
UPDATETEXT
USE
WAITFOR
WHILE
WRITETEXT

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 "break" 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 Sybase

Methodology

1. Static extraction: A Python script parses the lexer (.cod) and grammar (.y) source files to identify all 456 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/sybase_keyword_compatibility.json.