Re: Text pattern JOINs that use indexes

On 15 Mar 2004, at 19:29, Tom Lane wrote:

> Richard Brooksby <rb@ravenbrook.com> writes:
>> explain select * from files where name like 'foo%';
>
> This is indexable because the LIKE pattern is a constant at plan time,
> and so the planner can see that there's a useful range constraint
> extractable from the pattern.
>
>> explain select * from test join files on files.name like test.filename
>> || '%';
>
> This is not indexable, because the LIKE pattern is not constant.

Thanks, Tom, I can now see why the planner is making the choice it
does.  I suppose in theory if I could guarantee that "test.filename"
didn't contain '%' then the planner could do better, if it was clever
enough.

Do you have a suggestion for how I achieve what I want?  My current
solution is a function with nested FOR loops, but it seems a great
shame to have to write it all out by hand.

> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
>
>                http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html

Yes indeed I have, especially question 4.8!

Thanks again.