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From: dfgpostgres <dfgpostgres3@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:51:36 -0400
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 <CAAcmDX9-tCLi72BwpAgxXsM9tr4foPbYouMr_cTyFYKU0XXyxQ@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: can a linux program, running on the client side, generate data to
 load a temp table ?
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v15.5 on linux

I've read about and tested a way for a query which calls a user function
which returns a temp table that gets its data from an external program.
Example...

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION run_linux_script()
RETURNS TABLE (script_output text)
LANGUAGE plpgsql
AS $$
BEGIN
    -- Create a temporary table for this session
    CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE IF NOT EXISTS temp_script_results (
        output_line text
    );

    -- Truncate in case it was used previously in the same session
    TRUNCATE temp_script_results;

    -- Execute the script and insert the output into the table
    COPY temp_script_results (output_line)
    FROM PROGRAM '/path/to/my/script/linux_script.pl';

    -- Return the results to the calling user
    RETURN QUERY SELECT output_line FROM temp_script_results;

    -- Clean up
    DROP TABLE temp_script_results;
END;
$$;

SELECT * FROM run_linux_script();

It runs, sort of, but fails because it can't find the "linux_script.pl"
script because it's looking for it on the server side.

My question is about whether or not I can get something like this to run on
the client side (where the script can be found).

Thanks in Advance :-)

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<div dir=3D"ltr">v15.5 on linux<div><br></div><div>I&#39;ve read about and =
tested=C2=A0a way for a query which calls a user function which returns a t=
emp table that gets its data from an external program.=C2=A0 Example...</di=
v><div><br></div><div><font color=3D"#0b5394">CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION ru=
n_linux_script()<br>RETURNS TABLE (script_output text) <br>LANGUAGE plpgsql=
<br>AS $$<br>BEGIN<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 -- Create a temporary table for this se=
ssion<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE IF NOT EXISTS temp_script_res=
ults (<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 output_line text<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 );<=
br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 -- Truncate in case it was used previous=
ly in the same session<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 TRUNCATE temp_script_results;<br><b=
r>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 -- Execute the script and insert the output into the table<=
br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 COPY temp_script_results (output_line)<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 FR=
OM PROGRAM &#39;/path/to/my/script/<a href=3D"http://linux_script.pl">linux=
_script.pl</a>&#39;;<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 -- Return the results to the call=
ing user<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 RETURN QUERY SELECT output_line FROM temp_script_=
results;<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 -- Clean up<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 DR=
OP TABLE temp_script_results;<br>END;<br>$$;<br><br>SELECT * FROM run_linux=
_script()</font>;</div><div><br></div><div>It runs, sort of, but fails beca=
use it can&#39;t find the &quot;<a href=3D"http://linux_script.pl">linux_sc=
ript.pl</a>&quot; script because it&#39;s looking for it on the server side=
.</div><div><br></div><div>My question is about whether or not I can get so=
mething like this to run on the client side (where the script can be found)=
.=C2=A0=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks in Advance :-)</div><div><br>=
</div><div><br></div></div>

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