Re: How use input parameter as path to COPY in function?

Thanks Tom. As usual, I learned a lot more from your reply than just the
answer to my question .

Bill

Tom Lane wrote:
> Bill Todd <pg(at)dbginc(dot)com> writes:
>
>> I am missing something basic. How can I use an input parameter as the
>> destination path in a COPY statement in a function.
>>
>
> plpgsql can only substitute parameter values into places where a data
> value is called for in a DML statement (ie, SELECT/INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE).
> To use a parameter in other contexts, such as a utility statement like
> COPY, you need to construct the command as a string and EXECUTE it.
> Try something like
>
> EXECUTE 'copy dvd.genre to ' || quote_literal(export_path) ||
> $q$
> with
> delimiter as E'\t'
> null as ''
> $q$ ;
>
> (There's any number of ways to do the quoting here, of course,
> but I do strongly recommend using quote_literal() on the parameter.)
>
> regards, tom lane
>
>