Cross-Database Queries Don't Work As Documented

Hi KyleChamberlin,

Thank you for raising this question and providing the helpful documentation references.

You are correct that both the Fabric SQL Database (Preview) overview and the feature comparison articles indicate support for cross-database queries using 3-part identifiers.

However, based on current behaviour and internal updates, this functionality is not yet fully supported in the current Fabric SQL database engine, despite what the documentation implies. The error messages you are receiving:

• Reference to database and/or server name in X is not supported in this version of SQL Server
• Invalid object name X

are consistent with limitations seen when attempting unsupported cross-database references.

Workaround (If applicable): If cross-database data access is required, you can consider:

• Duplicating required tables in the current database.
• Or using Lakehouse’s with Direct Lake mode to query across datasets within the same workspace context.

We suggest submitting this as feedback directly on the documentation page or through the Microsoft Fabric Ideas portal, so the team can clarify documentation or update roadmap support for this feature: Microsoft Fabric Ideas

Hope this helps clarify things and let me know what you find after giving these steps a try happy to help you investigate this further.

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