Linked Server Query

[Beginner]

I'm using MS SQL Server Express and I've added a linked server. (I created the linked server by right mouse clicking on Server Objects, selecting SQL and entering the SQL2 as the name.) Now I'm trying to query a linked table. The following query works.

SELECT * FROM SQL2.PA.dbo.Counties

This one doesn't:

Select * from OPENQUERY(SQL2,"SELECT * FROM SQL2.PA.dbo.Counties")

Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Incorrect syntax near 'SELECT * FROM SQL2.PA.dbo.Counties'.

Can you tell me why?

[skhanal]

Try this

Select * from OPENQUERY(SQL2,"SELECT * FROM PA.dbo.Counties")

[rmiao]

That's right, don't need four-part fully qualified name in openquery.