Re: pl/pgsql feature request: shorthand for argument and local variable references

I went to archives and read the whole discussion for this from the beginning

I did not really understand, why using the ALIAS FOR syntax is significantly
harder to implement then #routine_label

The things you mentioned as currently using #OPTION seem to be in a different
category from the aliases and block labels - they are more like pragmas -  so to
me it still feels inconsistent to use #routine_label for renaming the
outer namespace.


Also checked code and indeed there is support for #OPTION DUMP and
#VARIABLE_CONFLICT ERROR
Is it documented and just hard to find ?


On Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 3:19 PM Hannu Krosing <hannuk@google.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 5:27 AM Pavel Stehule <pavel.stehule@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > There are few main reasons:
> >
> > a) compile options are available already - so I don't need invent new syntax - #OPTION DUMP, #PRINT_STRICT ON,
#VARIABLE_CONFLICTERROR
 
>
> Are these documented anywhere ?
>
> At least a quick search for pl/pgsql + #OPTION DUMP, #PRINT_STRICT ON,
> #VARIABLE_CONFLICT ERROR returned nothing relevant and also searching
> in
>
> If pl/pgsql actually supports any of these, these should get documented!
>
>
>
> For me the most logical place for declaring a function name alias
> would be to allow  ALIAS FOR the function name in DECLARE section.
>
> plpgsql_test=# CREATE FUNCTION
> a_function_with_an_inconveniently_long_name(i int , OUT o int)
> LANGUAGE plpgsql AS $plpgsql$
> DECLARE
>    fnarg ALIAS FOR a_function_with_an_inconveniently_long_name;
> BEGIN
>    fnarg.o = 2 * fnarg.i;
> END;
> $plpgsql$;
>
> but unfortunately this currently returns
>
> ERROR:  42704: variable "a_function_with_an_inconveniently_long_name"
> does not exist
> LINE 4:    fnarg ALIAS FOR a_function_with_an_inconveniently_long_na...
>                            ^
> LOCATION:  plpgsql_yyparse, pl_gram.y:677
>
> Variation could be
>
> DECLARE
>    fnarg ALIAS FOR FUNCTION a_function_with_an_inconveniently_long_name;
>
> so it is clear that we are aliasing current function name
>
> or even make the function name optional, as there can only be one, so
>
> DECLARE
>    fnarg ALIAS FOR FUNCTION;
>
>
> Cheers
> Hannu