Re: PL/pgSQL Function Problem

the inquirer <listquestions(at)yahoo(dot)com> writes:
> I am trying to create a function that creates a user
> and adds a row to a table. It produces no warnings or
> errors when I create the function but when I attempt
> to execute it I get a syntax error. I do not
> understand why this is happening.

> CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION create_author (
> VARCHAR(32), VARCHAR(32), VARCHAR(32) )
> RETURNS INTEGER AS '
> DECLARE
> name_ ALIAS FOR $1;
> username_ ALIAS FOR $2;
> password_ ALIAS FOR $3;
> authorid_ INTEGER;
> BEGIN
> CREATE USER username_ WITH ENCRYPTED PASSWORD
> password_ IN GROUP authors;

Utility statements (which is to say anything except SELECT/INSERT/
UPDATE/DELETE) generally don't cope with parameters. The above won't
work because it's trying to substitute parameters for username_ and
password_ in the CREATE USER utility statement. You could make it work
by constructing the CREATE USER command as a string and then EXECUTE'ing
it.

(I agree this ain't ideal, but it's where we're at...)

regards, tom lane