plpgsql question - simple I would have thought

This should be simple, but it's not. I think I'm just missing something
simple. I converted an oracle PL/SQL program to plpgssql, but it wouldn't
work, so I tried some very simple blocks, and even they fail. As far as I
can tell, the syntax is all valid.

Any help?

(postgres) robux:/opt/postgres/VRNJED
->cat it.sql

\echo raise notice attempt
begin
raise notice 'hello';
end;

\echo select into attempt
declare
i_int integer;
begin
select count(1) into i_int from vrnsys_version;
end;

(postgres) robux:/opt/postgres/VRNJED
->psql -U vrnsys
Welcome to psql 7.3.2, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.

Type: \copyright for distribution terms
\h for help with SQL commands
\? for help on internal slash commands
\g or terminate with semicolon to execute query
\q to quit

VRNJED=> \i it.sql
raise notice attempt
psql:it.sql:4: ERROR: parser: parse error at or near "raise" at character 9
psql:it.sql:5: WARNING: COMMIT: no transaction in progress
COMMIT
select into attempt
psql:it.sql:9: ERROR: parser: parse error at or near "integer" at character
17
psql:it.sql:11: ERROR: parser: parse error at or near "select" at character
8
psql:it.sql:12: WARNING: COMMIT: no transaction in progress
COMMIT
VRNJED-> \q
(postgres) robux:/opt/postgres/VRNJED
->

Jed S. Walker
Senior Database Administrator
Comcast Media Centers
Phone: 303.267.6759
Email: jed_walker(at)cable(dot)comcast(dot)com

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