Thread: a celko-puzzle from long time ago

While reading celko's SQL puzzles (second edition) i followed a reference to http://www.dbmsmag.com/9801d06.html.
There is a puzzle that counts items in boxes.
When i try to run the proposed solution on PG 8.1.5, PG says: ERROR:  column reference "qty" is ambiguous


apparently the variable declaration used in the solution is not proper for PostgreSQL. Is there a way to solve this
puzzlein PostgreSQL?
 

/stig

> While reading celko's SQL puzzles (second edition) i followed a reference to
> http://www.dbmsmag.com/9801d06.html.
> There is a puzzle that counts items in boxes.
> When i try to run the proposed solution on PG 8.1.5, PG says: ERROR:  column reference "qty" is
> ambiguous
> 
> 
> apparently the variable declaration used in the solution is not proper for PostgreSQL. Is there
> a way to solve this puzzle in PostgreSQL?

I believe that qty is a parameter variable that must first be set in psql.  I've seen some thread
in various lists that describe how to set parameter variables before executing a query that uses
them.

Regards,

Richard Broersma Jr.

Should be entirely executable in postgres using psql variables (once you
get around the psql quoting weirdnesses). do this:

gp_test=# \set item '\''Apple'
gp_test=# \set qty 6
gp_test=# \echo :item
'Apple'
gp_test=# \echo :qty
6

and then run his query.

Now, i am not sure what DBMS lets Mr. Celko insert the string 'Orange'
into a CHAR(5) field, but he's a smartie, so I am sure there must be a
way ;-)

George



> -----Original Message-----
> From: pgsql-sql-owner@postgresql.org
> [mailto:pgsql-sql-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Richard
> Broersma Jr
> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 11:55 AM
> To: stig erikson; pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
> Subject: Re: [SQL] a celko-puzzle from long time ago
>
> > While reading celko's SQL puzzles (second edition) i
> followed a reference to
> > http://www.dbmsmag.com/9801d06.html.
> > There is a puzzle that counts items in boxes.
> > When i try to run the proposed solution on PG 8.1.5, PG
> says: ERROR:  column reference "qty" is
> > ambiguous
> >
> >
> > apparently the variable declaration used in the solution is
> not proper for PostgreSQL. Is there
> > a way to solve this puzzle in PostgreSQL?
>
> I believe that qty is a parameter variable that must first be
> set in psql.  I've seen some thread
> in various lists that describe how to set parameter variables
> before executing a query that uses
> them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Broersma Jr.