From: =?UTF-8?Q?J=c3=bcrgen_Purtz?= <juergen@purtz.de>
To: pgsql-sql@lists.postgresql.org
Subject: SQL conformity regarding SQLSTATE
Message-ID: <c2c1a96d-dae9-6667-bf11-eb423ee90385@purtz.de>
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:14:50 +0100
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Hello,

SQLSTATE is defined by the SQL standard. Our usage of the value seems to 
contain some defects in respect to it: SQLCODE is divided into a *class* 
(first two bytes) and a *subclass* (next 3 bytes). If an implementation 
defines additional values to support its own non- standardised features, 
it must use values within the two ranges [5-9] or [I-Z] for the first 
byte of the class *or* the first byte of the subclass. Our preferred 
byte for this case is P. But there are cases where other decisions have 
taken place.

Here is a list of values, which violate the above rule as the values are 
in the range which is reserved for the standard but (actually) are not 
defined by the standard. I compared our list in the version 10 
documentation with the SQL:2011 standard. (Unfortunately I have no 
access to SQL:2016. Maybe, some values of my list are defined there.)

01008, 03000, 0B000, 23502 - 23514, 39001, 42501 - 42939, F0000, F0001.

With that said I have some questions:

a) We strive for standard conformity as well as for continuity in our 
product. How can we solve that conflict?

b) Shall we add a comment into 'errcodes.txt' to remind everybody to the 
mentioned rule?

c) Is it possible to rearrange the rows of 'errcode.txt' in a way that 
reflects the natural sort order of SQLSTATE? This will be helpful for 
reading Appendix A of our documentation which is generated out of 
'errcode.txt'. But: a lot of other Postgres parts depends on this file - 
may be, some unwanted side effects will arise?

d) Do we have representatives in ISO's national bodies (ANSI, DIN, BSI, 
...) to follow and influence the standardisation process?


Jürgen Purtz