dbt-labs/dbt-core · error

Unknown method on adapter object

Error message

Unknown method on adapter object: '{name}'

What it means

The adapter object exposed to Jinja dispatches method calls by name against a fixed match table. Any method name not present in that table raises `UnknownMethod` with `Unknown method on adapter object: '{name}'`. This is a typo/version-coverage guard: the requested adapter method is not implemented (or not yet registered) for this adapter object.

Solutions

1. Check the spelling of the method name against the adapter's implemented method list (the match table in crates/dbt-adapter/src/adapter/mod.rs).
2. If the method is legitimately missing, implement/override it via the adapter's dispatch or use an available equivalent (e.g. `dispatch('...')` to a macro implementation).
3. Guard adapter-specific calls in macros behind adapter-type checks so ClickHouse-only methods are not invoked elsewhere.
4. Verify macro/adapter version compatibility after upgrading dbt or the adapter.

Example fix

// before (Jinja)
{% set cols = adapter.get_columns_in_relation_(relation) %}
// after
{% set cols = adapter.get_columns_in_relation(relation) %}

{# Jinja: feature-detect the method before relying on it #}
{% set has_method = adapter is mapping and method_name in adapter %}

{# Jinja: wrap risky adapter calls with a dispatch fallback #}
{% set result = adapter.dispatch('get_columns_in_relation')(relation) %}
{# or #}
{% if execute and adapter_type == 'clickhouse' %}
  {{ adapter.clickhouse_only_method() }}
{% endif %}

When it happens

Trigger: A Jinja macro calls `adapter.some_method(...)` where `some_method` is misspelled, is dbt-core-specific and not ported to this Rust adapter, or is adapter-specific (e.g. a ClickHouse-only macro running against another adapter's object).

Common situations: Ported dbt-core macros calling Python adapter APIs that have no Rust equivalent yet; typos in custom macros; materializations shared across adapters invoking methods only some adapters implement; version drift after upgrading where a method was renamed or removed.

Related errors

• Unknown method on ColumnStatic
• adapter not found in context
• adapter should be configured for the parse phase
• compute_external_path: Failed to deserialize config
• compute_external_path: Failed to deserialize…

AI-assisted analysis of dbt-labs/dbt-core@0267ce9170 (2026-09-07). Data as JSON: /api/errors/5a47b3540cdf310d. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at crates/dbt-adapter/src/adapter/mod.rs:4386

                    })?
                    .downcast_object::<AgateTable>()
                    .ok_or_else(|| {
                        minijinja::Error::new(
                            minijinja::ErrorKind::InvalidOperation,
                            "get_csv_data: argument must be an AgateTable",
                        )
                    })?;
                self.get_csv_data(table)
            }
            "get_credentials" => self.get_credentials(args),
            "render_equals" => {
                let iter = ArgsIter::new(name, &["expr1", "expr2"], args);
                let expr1 = iter.next_arg::<&str>()?;
                let expr2 = iter.next_arg::<&str>()?;
                iter.finish()?;
                self.render_equals(state, expr1, expr2)
            }
            _ => Err(minijinja::Error::new(
                minijinja::ErrorKind::UnknownMethod,
                format!("Unknown method on adapter object: '{name}'"),
            )),
        }
    }

    /// ClickHouse: `adapter.get_credentials(connection_overrides)` — connection
    /// parameters for dictionary SOURCE clauses. See [AdapterImpl::get_credentials].
    pub fn get_credentials(&self, args: &[Value]) -> Result<Value, minijinja::Error> {
        let iter = ArgsIter::new("get_credentials", &["connection_overrides"], args);
        let overrides = iter.next_arg::<Option<&Value>>()?;
        iter.finish()?;
        match &self.inner {
            Typed { adapter, .. } => {
                Ok(adapter.get_credentials(overrides.unwrap_or(&Value::UNDEFINED)))
            }
            Parse(_) => Ok(empty_map_value()),
        }

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