Re: BUG #1522: there's a syntax error using psql, distinct - Mailing list pgsql-bugs

On Thu, 3 Mar 2005, DIEGO URRA wrote:

>
> The following bug has been logged online:
>
> Bug reference:      1522
> Logged by:          DIEGO URRA
> Email address:      diegomann@yahoo.com
> PostgreSQL version: 8.0
> Operating system:   REDHAT 6.2
> Description:        there's a syntax error using psql, distinct
> Details:
>
> hi!
>
> select distinct(id) from results;
> works fine
>
> select distinct(id) || 'xyz' from results;
> works fine
>
> select 'abc' || distinct(id) || 'xyz' from resuls;
> syntax error
>
> is this a bug? thanks in advance

I don't think so.  DISTINCT goes at the front of the select list if used.
I think perhaps you're being mislead by the parens around id in the above
which make it looks as if the distinct is being applied to id in the first
two queries rather than to the full expressions in the select list ( (id)
and (id)|| 'xyz' respectively).