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sqlpostgresqlamazon-redshiftset-returning-functions

How to select multiple rows filled with constants in Amazon Redshift?

I have already tried the common PostgreSQL answer, but seems like it doesn't work with Redshift:

SELECT  * FROM VALUES (1) AS q (col1);

ERROR: 42883: function values(integer) does not exist

I need this because for some reason I can't use UNION ALL. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Solution

  • The correct Postgres syntax would be:

    SELECT * FROM (VALUES (1)) AS q (col1);

    A set of parentheses was missing.

    But Redshift does not support free-standing VALUES expressions (outside of INSERT commands). So, for a single row:

    SELECT * FROM (SELECT 1) AS q (col1);

    For multiple rows (without using UNION ALL like requested) you can use a temporary table:

    CREATE TEMP TABLE q(col1 int);
INSERT INTO q(col1)
VALUES (1), (2), (3);

SELECT * FROM q;

    The manual:

    A temporary table is automatically dropped at the end of the session in which it was created.

    If UNION ALL is an option:

    SELECT 1 AS col1
UNION ALL SELECT 2
UNION ALL SELECT 3;