I really needed this functionality in PostgreSQL. A common use for autonomous transactions is error logging. I want to log sqlerrm in a function and raise an exception so the calling application knows there is an error and I have it logged to a table.
I figured out a way to "hack" an autonomous transaction by using a dblink in a function and here is a simple example:
create or replace function fn_log_error(p_function varchar, p_location int, p_error varchar) returns void as
$$
declare
v_sql varchar;
v_return varchar;
v_error varchar;
begin
perform dblink_connect('connection_name', 'dbname=...');
v_sql := 'insert into error_log (function_name, location, error_message, error_time) values (''' || p_function_name || ''', ' ||
p_location || ', ''' || p_error || ''', clock_timestamp())';
select * from dblink_exec('connection_name', v_sql, false) into v_return;
--get the error message
select * from dblink_error_message('connection_name') into v_error;
if position('ERROR' in v_error) > 0 or position('WARNING' in v_error) > 0 then
raise exception '%', v_error;
end if;
perform dblink_disconnect('connection_name');
exception
when others then
perform dblink_disconnect('connection_name');
raise exception '(%)', sqlerrm;
end;
$$
language 'plpgsql' security definer;
I thought I would share and it works rather well. Maybe someone could enhance this concept to include it with the core database to provide autonomous transactions.
Jon
