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"is not distinct from" syntax error?
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* "is not distinct from" syntax error?
@ 2007-05-01 00:03 Collin Peters <cadiolis@gmail.com>
  2007-05-01 00:46 ` Re: "is not distinct from" syntax error? Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 2+ messages in thread

From: Collin Peters @ 2007-05-01 00:03 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: pgsql-sql

From: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/static/functions-comparison.html

" The ordinary comparison operators yield null (signifying "unknown")
when either input is null. Another way to do comparisons is with the
IS [ NOT ] DISTINCT FROM construct:

expression IS DISTINCT FROM expression
expression IS NOT DISTINCT FROM expression

For non-null inputs, IS DISTINCT FROM is the same as the <> operator.
However, when both inputs are null it will return false, and when just
one input is null it will return true. Similarly, IS NOT DISTINCT FROM
is identical to = for non-null inputs, but it returns true when both
inputs are null, and false when only one input is null. Thus, these
constructs effectively act as though null were a normal data value,
rather than "unknown"."

However, when I do:
SELECT	1 IS NOT DISTINCT FROM 2

I get "ERROR: syntax error at or near "DISTINCT""

I can do:
SELECT	NOT (1 IS DISTINCT FROM 2)

What is the problem here?

Regards,
Collin



^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 2+ messages in thread

* Re: "is not distinct from" syntax error?
  2007-05-01 00:03 "is not distinct from" syntax error? Collin Peters <cadiolis@gmail.com>
@ 2007-05-01 00:46 ` Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 2+ messages in thread

From: Tom Lane @ 2007-05-01 00:46 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Collin Peters <cadiolis@gmail.com>; +Cc: pgsql-sql

"Collin Peters" <cadiolis@gmail.com> writes:
> However, when I do:
> SELECT	1 IS NOT DISTINCT FROM 2
> I get "ERROR: syntax error at or near "DISTINCT""

> What is the problem here?

Using a pre-8.2 server, likely.

			regards, tom lane



^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 2+ messages in thread


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