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postgresqldatabase-trigger

PostgreSQL Syntax error at or near FUNCTION on create trigger

I installed postgresql and postgresql-plpython-10 (using apt) on a new machine running Ubuntu server 18.04 and I have reinstated a Postgresql database (extracted using pg_dumpall) from another machine onto a new machine (Linux).

I checked that the trackspreadsheetnztplpy function exists in the database and the table nztgsheet exists. I reran the function on the old machine and it worked perfectly. I checked plpythonu is installed on the new machine using psql command: \dL.

SQL error:

ERROR: syntax error at or near "FUNCTION" LINE 1: ...H ROW WHEN (OLD.* IS DISTINCT FROM NEW.*) EXECUTE FUNCTION t... ^

In statement: CREATE TRIGGER trackspreadsheetnzt AFTER UPDATE ON nztgsheet FOR EACH ROW WHEN (OLD.* IS DISTINCT FROM NEW.*) EXECUTE FUNCTION trackspreadsheetnztplpy();

I expected the trigger function to work, but it throws a syntax error instead.

Solution

  • The EXECUTE FUNCTION syntax for CREATE TRIGGER statements was introduced in Postgres 11.

    In Postgres 10, you need to say EXECUTE PROCEDURE instead.

    This syntax was deprecated in Postgres 11 with the introduction of procedures, which are distinct from functions and cannot be used to implement a trigger.