Thread: Re: Sqlstatement with !=-1 fails

Hello,

I get the following error

pl=# select * from person where id !=-1;
ERROR:  Unable to identify an operator '!=-' for types 'int8' and 'int4'
        You will have to retype this query using an explicit cast

pl=# select * from person where id =-1;
 id | name | last_update_time
----+------+------------------
(0 rows)

However this works fine

pl=# select * from person where id != -1;

This looks like a parser error, note the space added in the select that
works ??

Dave

"Dave Cramer" <Dave@micro-automation.net> writes:
> pl=# select * from person where id !=-1;
> ERROR:  Unable to identify an operator '!=-' for types 'int8' and 'int4'
>         You will have to retype this query using an explicit cast

This is not a bug.  It's a consequence of wanting to allow user-definable
multicharacter operator names.  See the rules about allowable operator
names,
http://www.ca.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/7.1/postgres/sql-syntax.html#SQL-SYNTAX-OPERATORS

            regards, tom lane

PS: no, != is not an SQL-standard operator name ... <> is.