Re: PL/pgSQL: SELECT INTO EXACT

Matt Miller <mattm(at)epx(dot)com> writes:
> This patch implements an optional EXACT keyword after the INTO keyword
> of the PL/pgSQL SELECT INTO command. The motivation is to come closer
> to Oracle's SELECT INTO behavior: when SELECTing INTO scalar targets,
> raise an exception and leave the targets untouched if the query does not
> return exactly one row. This patch does not go so far as to raise an
> exception, but it can simplify porting efforts from PL/SQL.

Uh, what's the point of being only sort-of compatible? Why not throw
the exception?

I dislike the choice of "EXACT", too, as it (a) adds a new reserved word
and (b) doesn't seem to convey quite what is happening anyway. Not sure
about a better word though ... anyone?

regards, tom lane