Thread: BUG #1305: can't use the type 'number' with alter table

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference:      1305
Logged by:          Károly Segesdi

Email address:      jazzkutya@wom.hu

PostgreSQL version: 7.4.5

Operating system:   slackware 10.0

Description:        can't use the type 'number' with alter table

Details:

somedb=# alter table sometbl add column msisdn number(11);
ERROR:  syntax error at or near "(" at character 43

you can use the type identifier 'decimal' instead:
somedb=# alter table sometbl add column msisdn decimal(11);
ALTER TABLE

The documentation says theese two types are the same, but it's annoying that
you can't use the one that is mentioned more frequently in the docs.

postgresql version is 7.4.6, your bugreport form's version field misses this
version.

On Wed, 3 Nov 2004, PostgreSQL Bugs List wrote:

>
> The following bug has been logged online:
>
> Bug reference:      1305
> Logged by:          K=C3=A1roly Segesdi
>
> Email address:      jazzkutya@wom.hu
>
> PostgreSQL version: 7.4.5
>
> Operating system:   slackware 10.0
>
> Description:        can't use the type 'number' with alter table
>
> Details:
>
> somedb=3D# alter table sometbl add column msisdn number(11);
> ERROR:  syntax error at or near "(" at character 43
>
> you can use the type identifier 'decimal' instead:
> somedb=3D# alter table sometbl add column msisdn decimal(11);
> ALTER TABLE
>
> The documentation says theese two types are the same, but it's annoying t=
hat
> you can't use the one that is mentioned more frequently in the docs.

I think the issue is that the type is numeric, not number.  Where did you
see it refered to as number in the docs so we can fix it.

Stephan Szabo wrote:

>On Wed, 3 Nov 2004, PostgreSQL Bugs List wrote:
>
>
>>somedb=# alter table sometbl add column msisdn number(11);
>>ERROR:  syntax error at or near "(" at character 43
>>
>>you can use the type identifier 'decimal' instead:
>>somedb=# alter table sometbl add column msisdn decimal(11);
>>ALTER TABLE
>>
>>The documentation says theese two types are the same, but it's annoying that
>>you can't use the one that is mentioned more frequently in the docs.
>>
>>
>
>I think the issue is that the type is numeric, not number.  Where did you
>see it refered to as number in the docs so we can fix it.
>
>
I'm sorry. It was my fault.