On Fri, Jun 30, 2006 at 12:39:52PM -0400, mark(at)mark(dot)mielke(dot)cc wrote:
> > Only this could be used to create other types too, for cryptographic
> > functions for example. PostgreSQL doesn't have any type generators yet,
> > so I'm unsure whether a patch creating one would be accepted for core.
>
> Not sure what I think of this. I suppose the intention would be for it
> to work for lengths other than 16? I can see people wanting to use such
> a generalized function for char as well as bytea, for at least latin1
> characters...
>
> If people agree to a generic 16-byte type, or a hex type with defined
> fixed length with a set of standard functions and index operators that
> it should work for, but nobody more qualified wants to make the patch
> - I'll step up.
I think it'd be extremely useful to have a means of defining
fixed-length hex types, such as UUIDs and hashes (ie: SHA1). I usually
only see people trying to do the same thing for CHAR in poorly-designed
systems, but I suspect anyone dealing with legacy stuff might welcome
that ability as well.
--
Jim C. Nasby, Sr. Engineering Consultant jnasby(at)pervasive(dot)com
Pervasive Software http://pervasive.com work: 512-231-6117
vcard: http://jim.nasby.net/pervasive.vcf cell: 512-569-9461