dbt-labs/dbt-core · error

Unknown method on adapter object: '{name}'

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.

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()),
        }

View on GitHub (pinned to 0267ce9170)

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: '{name}'
• describe_dynamic_table is not supported by the {} adapter
• describe_interactive_table is not supported by the {} adapte
• invalid return value
• target is not set in state

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