Re: updating a sequence

On Tuesday, November 15, 2011 07:46:19 pm Scott Marlowe wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 5:33 PM, Samuel Gendler
>
> <sgendler(at)ideasculptor(dot)com> wrote:
> > On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 4:28 PM, John Fabiani <johnf(at)jfcomputer(dot)com>
wrote:
> >> On Tuesday, November 15, 2011 08:33:54 am Richard Broersma wrote:
> >> > On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 8:06 AM, John Fabiani <johnf(at)jfcomputer(dot)com>
> >> >
> >> > wrote:
> >> > > alter sequence somename restart with (select max(pk) from
> >> > > sometable).
> >> > >
> >> > > I need this for automating an ETL (using pentaho).
> >> >
> >> > http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.1/interactive/functions-sequence.html
> >> > #FUNC TIONS-SEQUENCE-TABLE
> >>
> >> I don't see how that helps answer my problem. I know how to update a
> >> sequence. I want to pass a value for the restart vaue that depends on a
> >> query
> >> - all in one statement. I would think it is a common problem i.e.
> >> migrating
> >> data.
> >
> > use a subquery to set the value -
> > select setval('foo', select max(some_id) from some_table)
> > It's all right there in the docs that you were pointed to. We try to
> > encourage people to be somewhat self sufficient around here.
>
> You need to wrap a subselect in ():
>
> select setval('foo', (select max(some_id) from some_table));
>
> That works in 9.1.1. No clue about previous versions off the top of
> my head, but I seem to recall it doesn't work in 8.3 and prior
> versions.

Thanks that did work with the parens.

I could not get to work earlier.

Johnf