Thread: Two TIMESTAMPs in one pl/sql function

Hi,

I'm trying to time a pl/sql function using a rougn and ready method,
basically: print a TIMESTAMP at the begining of the function, print a
TIMESTAMP at the end of the function.

So...:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION timer() RETURNS INTEGER AS '
DECLARE 
timer1 TIMESTAMP;timer2 TIMESTAMP;num_operators INTEGER;

BEGINtimer1 := ''now''; -- As suggested in 23.4 of programmer guide     RAISE NOTICE ''Start: %'', timer1;/* Some
functionwhich takes time.Here, a select from a pg catalogue */ SELECT INTO num_operators COUNT(*) FROM
pg_operator;timer2:= ''now'';RAISE NOTICE ''End: %'', timer2;RETURN(num_operators);
 
END;' 
LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

Gives me:

testdb2=# select timer();
NOTICE:  Start: 2002-11-26 13:40:14.116605+00
NOTICE:  End: 2002-11-26 13:40:14.116605+00timer
-------  623
(1 row)

I've tried all sorts of variations but I hit one of two problems; either the
TIMESTAMP is fixed to the function compile time or, as above, the timer1 and
timer2 TIMESTAMPs are always identical.

Any help/pointers/suggestions appreciate... well of course a working
solution would be the best ;)

Cheers,

Stuart.

On Tuesday 26 Nov 2002 1:54 pm, Rison, Stuart wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to time a pl/sql function using a rougn and ready method,
> basically: print a TIMESTAMP at the begining of the function, print a
> TIMESTAMP at the end of the function.
[snip]
> Gives me:
>
> testdb2=# select timer();
> NOTICE:  Start: 2002-11-26 13:40:14.116605+00
> NOTICE:  End: 2002-11-26 13:40:14.116605+00

> I've tried all sorts of variations but I hit one of two problems; either
> the TIMESTAMP is fixed to the function compile time or, as above, the
> timer1 and timer2 TIMESTAMPs are always identical.

Try timeofday() not now(). Quite often you want the time to stay fixed for the
length of a transaction (what now() does). In this case you don't - see the
Functions : date/time section of the manual for details.

--  Richard Huxton