PostgreSQL : 8.2
Operating system: fedora RC4
--------
create table a (a1 integer);
create table b (b1 integer);
insert into a (a1) values (1);
insert into a (a1) values (2);
select a1 from b;
ERROR: column "a1" does not exist at character 8
but :
select a1 from a where a1 not in (select a1 from b);
a1
---- 1 2
(2 rows)
when b is not empty :
insert into b (b1) values (1);
select a1 from b;
ERROR: column "a1" does not exist at character 8
but :
select a1 from a where a1 not in (select a1 from b);a1
----
(0 rows)
select a1 from a where a1 in (select a1 from b);a1
---- 1 2
(2 rows)