# Receiving nil on ID results using select **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [August 15, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/receiving-nil-on-id-results-using-select/193291 "2010-08-15T00:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elricstorm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@elricstorm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elricstorm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/receiving-nil-on-id-results-using-select/193291/1 "2010-08-15T00:28:32Z")
On my teams table I have a column for ESPN names where ESPN uses it’s own naming convention for teams. I’m trying to do a simple find\_by\_field… @team = “Navy” @o\_team = Team.find\_by\_espn\_team(@team, :select =\> “teams.id AS opponent\_id”) p @o\_team[:opponent\_id] p @o\_team.opponent\_id In the console it shows the correct number but right after posting the number it states: Team = Navy | ESPN ID = 2426 | TEAM ID = 1 61 61 NoMethodError: You have a nil object when you didn’t expect it! You might have expected an instance of ActiveRecord::Base. The error occurred while evaluating nil.[] 61 is the correct ID for the first opponent and both puts show the correct number. The line this points at points to the first p @o\_team[:opponent\_id] and if I remove it and use the second it does the same, pointing to the second puts statement. If I try a generic non-select query and use team.id or team\_id I receive a whiny nil error. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![elricstorm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@elricstorm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elricstorm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/receiving-nil-on-id-results-using-select/193291/2 "2010-08-15T04:25:39Z")
Team.all(:conditions =\> {:espn\_team =\> @team}).each do |row| @o\_team = row.id end p @o\_team The .find\_by query was the cause. Swapping to all and applying a condition for the team works.