Resolving polymorphic functions with related datatypes

I'm using the nvl() function from the orafce package. It is defined as a
polymorphic function so its function signature is
nvl(anyelement, anyelement)

Now if I try to use the function in this very typical way
nvl(numeric_col, 0)

we get

ERROR: function nvl(numeric, integer) does not exist

The same error occurs if we have nvl(smallint, integer) etc

This is a real shame 'cos polymorphic functions ought to be a great way
of saving development time and catalog space, yet they seem to fall down
a hole without implicit casting.

What I'd like it to do is to recognise that the 0 should be cast
implicitly to another datatype within the same family. I want and expect
nvl(char_column, 0)
to fail, but I expect the various numeric/integer types we have to play
nicely together without tears.

If we can do it for indexes, can we do it for polymorphic functions also
when there is no matching function?

--
Simon Riggs www.2ndQuadrant.com
PostgreSQL Training, Services and Support