Received: from localhost (unknown [200.46.204.182])
	by postgresql.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5B6962E0128
	for <pgsql-sql-postgresql.org@postgresql.org>;
	Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:10:41 -0400 (AST)
Received: from postgresql.org ([200.46.204.71])
	by localhost (mx1.hub.org [200.46.204.182]) (amavisd-maia, port 10024)
	with ESMTP id 68271-02 for <pgsql-sql-postgresql.org@postgresql.org>;
	Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:10:36 -0400 (AST)
Received: from www01.kensystem.com (www01.kensystem.com [72.19.170.120])
	by postgresql.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DA6792E3871
	for <pgsql-sql@postgresql.org>; Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:10:37 -0400 (AST)
Received: from 192.168.0.3 by www01.kensystem.com (SMTPD);
	id s20080110001035.45277; Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:10:35
Message-ID: <4785C50F.6010505@kensystem.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:11:11 -0700
From: Ken Johanson <pg-user@kensystem.com>
User-Agent: Thunderbird 1.5.0.14 (Windows/20071210)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: Shorthand column labels (SELECT col1 foo, ...) vs (SELECT col1 AS
	foo, ...)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Virus-Scanned: Maia Mailguard 1.0.1
X-Archive-Number: 200801/62
X-Sequence-Number: 29915

I notice PG doesn't allow shorthand column labels -- it requires the 
'AS' operand.

SELECT col1 foo, ...; -> ERROR: syntax error at or near "foo"

For compatibility with other databases, what objections might be argued 
in allowing this syntax in the future?

On the 'pros' side I think it eases migration to PG, shortens code, is 
similar syntax to shorthand table aliases, and some users might argue it 
has become defacto syntax among DBs.

Regards,
Ken