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From: Tom Lane <[email protected]>
To: John Lumby <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: description of Aggregate Expressions
Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2019 14:17:35 -0500
Message-ID: <[email protected]> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <DM6PR06MB55621D8E8B9C786DAA6BA077A35F0@DM6PR06MB5562.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>
References: <2A91BEF8171A5349931391E0C721CC5375705457@CPEMS-KPN501.KPNCNL.LOCAL>
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	<2A91BEF8171A5349931391E0C721CC53757054D3@CPEMS-KPN501.KPNCNL.LOCAL>
	<[email protected]>
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	<2A91BEF8171A5349931391E0C721CC5375705528@CPEMS-KPN501.KPNCNL.LOCAL>
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	<2A91BEF8171A5349931391E0C721CC53757055C3@CPEMS-KPN501.KPNCNL.LOCAL>
	<DM6PR06MB55622DFEE2755236B8A810A0A35C0@DM6PR06MB5562.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>
	<CAKFQuwZk3Kt4uNktMgLYj5B1Rzrm1R4EMVZQRka189AhnPkM=Q@mail.gmail.com>
	<DM6PR06MB55621D8E8B9C786DAA6BA077A35F0@DM6PR06MB5562.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>

John Lumby <[email protected]> writes:
> On 12/05/19 18:06, David G. Johnston wrote:
>> Then I would have to say the proposed solution to this edge case is worse than the problem.  I also don't expect there to be a clean solution to dealing with the complexities of expressions at the syntax diagram level.

> Yes,  I see what I suggested is not ideal either.     But I think something needs to be changed.

> How about replacing "expression [ , ... ]"  by "parameter_list" in the description, and then stating that parameter_list can be either a single expression or ,   if the particular aggregate function accepts it (for which,   consult that function's reference),    a comma-separated list of expressions.

That's just as wrong.  As we tried to explain before, the
parenthesized-list syntax is a row constructor, so it only works
in cases where the aggregate function can accept a composite
argument type.  Most don't.

Moreover, the very same thing holds in *any* expression context,
not only aggregate arguments.  So if we took this seriously there
would have to be a lot of other places plastered with equally
confusing/unhelpful addenda.

			regards, tom lane





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