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From: Janning Vygen <vygen@gmx.de>
To: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Is there an easy way to normalize-space with given string
	functions
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 11:37:21 +0200
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Am Freitag, 23. April 2004 04:34 schrieb Tom Lane:
> Janning Vygen <vygen@gmx.de> writes:
> > i searched the function list and tried to combine to or more
> > functions, but i miss a replace function which uses regular
> > expressions.
>
> There isn't one in the SQL standard.  Most people who need one write a
> one-liner function in plperl or pltcl.

Thank you. 

> (Mind you, I don't know why we don't offer a built-in one --- the needed
> regex engine is in there anyway.  I guess no one has gotten around to
> getting agreement on a syntax.)

My suggestion:

Syntax:
substitute(string text, from text, to text);

Example:
substitute('  too  many spaces  ', '\s+', ' ');

Result:
' too many spaces '

But maybe its a bad idea to create new function names...

kind regards
janning