Thread: using = in a function

Hi all,

I was reading the doc's on functions when I came across this:

"
An assignment of a value to a PL/pgSQL variable or row/record field is
written as:

variable := expression;
"

and I realized, I didn't do that!  My assignments look like:

tmp = extract(minute from result);
if tmp > 30 then
    tmp = 60 - tmp;
    offset = tmp || ' minutes';
    result = result + offset;
else
    offset = tmp || ' minutes';
    result = result - offset;
end if;


Notice I just use = and not :=.

My question is, is there a difference?  It seems to work both ways, so
I'm a little confused.

Thanks,

-Andy

Andy Colson <andy@squeakycode.net> writes:
> An assignment of a value to a PL/pgSQL variable or row/record field is
> written as:
> variable := expression;

> Notice I just use = and not :=.

> My question is, is there a difference?  It seems to work both ways, so
> I'm a little confused.

Yeah, plpgsql actually allows both, but it's not documented.

            regards, tom lane

On 29/01/2008 02:41, Tom Lane wrote:
> Andy Colson <andy@squeakycode.net> writes:
>> Notice I just use = and not :=.
[snip]
> Yeah, plpgsql actually allows both, but it's not documented.

I really like := 'cos I've used Delphi/Pascal a lot over the years, so
:= falls nicely under the fingers. :-)

Ray.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Raymond O'Donnell, Director of Music, Galway Cathedral, Ireland
rod@iol.ie
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