syntax for drop if exists

From: Andrew Dunstan <andrew(at)dunslane(dot)net>
To: PostgreSQL-development <pgsql-hackers(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: syntax for drop if exists
Date: 2005-11-13 18:03:38
Message-ID: 43777FFA.3010803@dunslane.net
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I was just looking briefly at doing "drop if exists" as we discussed
recently.

The MySQL syntax is actually "drop table if exists foo ...".
Implementing this unfortunately generates a shift/reduce conflict,
unless I put IF in the func_name_keyword list, which strikes me as a bad
idea.

Alternatively, we could use the syntax "drop if exists table foo ..."
which seems more natural to me, and generates no conflict.

Or we could live with the conflict, which I think would be harmless
unless you wanted to delete a table called "if", in which case you might
need to say "drop table if exists if" ;-)

I'm inclined to live with it, annoying as it is. I looked around to see
what other DBs do - but AFAICS most don't support this.

Thoughts?

cheers

andrew

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