UPDATE Syntax

Hi,

in a Python Script I build an UPDATE using the syntax:

update tbl set (col1, col2, ...) = (val1, val2, ...) where id = xx

That works as long in the two lists are more then one column and values.
If I have just one column and value, I get an error message:


==========================================================================
cg=# select id, name, vorname, status from tbl_person;
  id |  name  | vorname | status
----+--------+---------+--------
   3 | Goebel | Ulrich  | a
(1 row)

cg=#
cg=#
cg=#
cg=# update tbl_person set status = 'a' where id=3;
UPDATE 1
cg=#
cg=#
cg=#
cg=# update tbl_person set (status) = ('a') where id=3;
ERROR:  source for a multiple-column UPDATE item must be a sub-SELECT or 
ROW() expression
LINE 1: update tbl_person set (status) = ('a') where id=3;
                                           ^
cg=#
cg=#
cg=#
cg=# update tbl_person set (status, name) = ('a', 'Goebel') where id=3;
UPDATE 1
cg=#
==========================================================================


In fact in the script I have both cases: one ore more columns.

Is there another way but to code a case differentiation to avoid this
error message? Well, I could use the other syntax:

update tbl set col1=val1, col2=val2, ... where id=xx

but I just like the former...

Thank's
Ulrich


-- 
Ulrich Goebel
Am Büchel 57, 53173 Bonn