BigQuery Scheduled Query error "Dataset specified in the query ('') is not consistent with Destination dataset"

Problem

Scheduled query with multiple DML statements failing with the following error:

Dataset specified in the query ('') is not consistent with Destination dataset DATASET_ID

Environment

  • BigQuery
  • Scheduled queries with >1 DML statement

Solution

Recreate the scheduled query and make sure that the Target/Destination dataset (--target_dataset) value is not explicitly being set.

Cause

Destination/Target dataset can only be set up for scheduled queries with one single DML statement. When two DML statements are present (for example, DELETE FROM followed by a INSERT statement), the second DML statement will not pick up the correct destination/target dataset and will throw an error.