Re: 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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On Fri, Apr 01, 2005 at 02:52:20PM -0700, Walker, Jed S wrote:
>
> \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;

PL/pgSQL is for writing user-defined functions, so you need some
CREATE FUNCTION statements.

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/7.3/interactive/plpgsql.html

> Welcome to psql 7.3.2, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.

That version is pretty old -- if you must use 7.3 then at least
consider upgrading to 7.3.9. See the Release Notes for a summary
of bug fixes and other changes:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/7.3/interactive/release.html

If you're not committed to using 7.3 then you might want to check
out 8.0.2 when it's released (which should be Real Soon Now).

--
Michael Fuhr
http://www.fuhr.org/~mfuhr/