Thread: BUG #5854: base64 decode returns bytea and no text

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference:      5854
Logged by:          Chris R.
Email address:      chricki@gmx.net
PostgreSQL version: 9.02
Operating system:   CentOS 5.5
Description:        base64 decode returns bytea and no text
Details:

There is a break in how pg9.0 handles decoding base64 encoded data.

With PostgreSQL 8.4:

select decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64');
  decode
----------
 \x616263


With PostgreSQL 9.0:

select decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64');
  decode
----------
 \x616263


To get the old result, convert_from helps out:
select convert_from(decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64'), 'UTF8');

Still, shouldn't this be consistent with 8.x and 9.x?

"Chris R." <chricki@gmx.net> writes:
> There is a break in how pg9.0 handles decoding base64 encoded data.

This has nothing to do with decode(), it's a change in the default
output format for bytea data.  Set bytea_output to "escape" to get
the old format.

            regards, tom lane

Chris R. wrote:
>
> The following bug has been logged online:
>
> Bug reference:      5854
> Logged by:          Chris R.
> Email address:      chricki@gmx.net
> PostgreSQL version: 9.02
> Operating system:   CentOS 5.5
> Description:        base64 decode returns bytea and no text
> Details:
>
> There is a break in how pg9.0 handles decoding base64 encoded data.
>
> With PostgreSQL 8.4:
>
> select decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64');
>   decode
> ----------
>  \x616263
>
>
> With PostgreSQL 9.0:
>
> select decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64');
>   decode
> ----------
>  \x616263
>
>
> To get the old result, convert_from helps out:
> select convert_from(decode(encode('abc', 'base64'), 'base64'), 'UTF8');
>
> Still, shouldn't this be consistent with 8.x and 9.x?

Uh, they look the same to me.  cut/paste error?

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  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        http://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB                             http://enterprisedb.com

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