Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:20:21 +0200
From: Johann Spies <jspies@sun.ac.za>
To: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: Help with regexp-query 
Message-ID: <20110728112021.GA31921@sun.ac.za>
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I am struggling a bit to do the following type of update in a table.

I want the content of a field updated like this:

Original:  
'||||0894396e-16bf-4e63-aa52-97fe7031eec9||50a6b47c-f69c-414d-bcb6-14bbe403de5f|||'

After update:
 '|0894396e-16bf-4e63-aa52-97fe7031eec9|50a6b47c-f69c-414d-bcb6-14bbe403de5f|'

in other words: change all multiple adjacent occurences of '|' to only 1. 

I have tried the following query but it fails:

select id, regexp_replace(category, (E'\|{2,}'), E'\|') as category from
akb_articles limit 100

This ends with 'ERROR: invalid regular expression: quantifier operand
invalid'.

I would apreciate some help with this one please.

Regards
Johann
-- 
Johann Spies                            Telefoon: 021-808 4699
Databestuurder /  Data manager

Sentrum vir Navorsing oor Evaluasie, Wetenskap en Tegnologie
Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology 
Universiteit Stellenbosch.

     "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 
      giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and 
      it shall be given him."              James 1:5