Question about SQL Control Structure(if then, for loop)

Hello,

I am new to PostgreSQL and want to use the IF-THEN; LOOP
statements in my SQL command file. Thus I may use psql -f cfile
to exceute.

However I always got syntax error on if/for in psql. For
example:
RDM=# for i in 1 .. 10 loop
RDM-# select "test"
RDM-# end loop;
ERROR: syntax error at or near "for" at character 1
LINE 1: for i in 1 .. 10 loop

RDM=# if exits ( select * from testtable)
RDM-# then
RDM-# select "TEST"
RDM-# ;
ERROR: syntax error at or near "if" at character 1
LINE 1: if exits ( select * from testtable)
^

Can someone tell me how to use if/for in psql? The document
shows the control structures in the PL/pgSQL section. Must I use
if/for inside some procedure/function?

Thanks a lot.

Jay

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