Re: MOVE in SQL vs PLPGSQL

andrew@pillette.com wrote:
>> Andrew - your question doesn't seem to make sense - can you give
>> some more details? Are you having some problem with cursors in
>> plpgsql?
> 
> 
> Yes. I'd like the effect of the plain SQL MOVE with a PLPGSQL cursor.
> I'm writing a procedure for which SQL is inadequate (I need
> condiitonal branches and looping). However, in PLPGSQL, it appears
> the only way to fast forward on a cursor is a repeated FETCH, which
> is wasteful. PLPGSQL doesn't even allow me to set up a SQL-type
> cursor using EXECUTE--I have to use the refcursor datatype and it
> doesn't appear to support MOVE.
> 
> I could write a procedure client-side in (say) Java without any
> problem using absolute or relative move, but I'd like the procedure
> to run on the server.

Ah, now I see what you're saying. You're quite right in your suspicions, 
"MOVE..." isn't supported for plpgsql cursors. You could probably do 
something with EXECUTE and returning a refcursor from a previous 
function, but that sounds fiddly.

I must admit, on the odd occasion I want to skip a row, I just FETCH it 
and move on. Anyone else?

--   Richard Huxton  Archonet Ltd