Thread: regular expressions troubles with char cols

Hi guys !!!!

Just a little question, I'd want to know, if the following situation is 
a normal restriction(is should be strange..), or if it's a bug , or maybe
if I'm missing something ...

ventasge2000=# create table t1 (c1 char(10),c2 varchar(10));
CREATE
ventasge2000=# insert into t1 values('XXX666','XXX666');
INSERT 182218 1
ventasge2000=# select * from t1 where c1 ~ '666$';c1 | c2 
----+----
(0 rows)

ventasge2000=# select * from t1 where c2 ~ '666$';    c1     |   c2   
------------+--------XXX666     | XXX666
(1 row)


Doesn't regular expressions(in particular the $ metachar) work properly 
with char columns????


Thanks in advance

SEYA
Dario Estepario ...

PS: I'm using version 7.02, but I also see this trouble in 7.0

dbahena@tpv.com.mx writes:
> ventasge2000=# create table t1 (c1 char(10),c2 varchar(10));
> CREATE
> ventasge2000=# insert into t1 values('XXX666','XXX666');
> INSERT 182218 1
> ventasge2000=# select * from t1 where c1 ~ '666$';
>  c1 | c2 
> ----+----
> (0 rows)
> ventasge2000=# select * from t1 where c2 ~ '666$';
>      c1     |   c2   
> ------------+--------
>  XXX666     | XXX666
> (1 row)

> Doesn't regular expressions(in particular the $ metachar) work properly 
> with char columns????

I see no bug there --- you've forgotten about the trailing spaces in
the char(10) column.  Try c1 ~ '666 *$' if you want to match against a
variable amount of padding in a char(N) column.  But really I'd suggest
using the appropriate datatype to begin with, and evidently char(N) is
not it for your use of this table.
        regards, tom lane