Re: pl/pgsql function problem

On Sat, 2001-09-08 at 01:09, David Mulcahy wrote:
> I am having problems doing what seems to be a very simple thing.  All I
> need is to join 2 or more variables (eg char, int, date) and return them
> as a single varchar variable.
>
> eg ret := int + char + date; or better still join("+", int,char,date)
> return ret;


Use COALESCE( VALUE, ...) to replace nulls with default values - it will
return the first non-null argument from the list of values.

Older versions of PL/PGSQL will always return null if any argument to
the function is null, so you may have to use this where you _call_ the
function, rather than within the function.

Regards,
                    Andrew.
--
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        Andrew McMillan, e-mail: Andrew @ catalyst . net . nz
Catalyst IT Ltd, PO Box 10-225, Level 22, 105 The Terrace, Wellington
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