Re: ERROR: syntax error at or near ":"

2013/3/7 Graham Leggett <minfrin(at)sharp(dot)fm>:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a text file, and I need to update the value of an element in a table with the contents of this text file. Following the instructions at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10968039/postgresql-inserting-value-of-a-column-from-a-file I tried this, but get the error below, which I do not understand.
>
> Can anyone explain what might be going wrong, and what I should do instead?
>
> patricia=# \set content `cat /tmp/certificates.txt`
> patricia=# update property set value = :'content' where key = 'patricia.home.security.cacerts';
> ERROR: syntax error at or near ":"
> LINE 1: update property set value = :'content' where key = 'patricia...

That should work...

Which psql version are you using, and what is the table definition?

Does the same error occur if you attempt to insert data from a
different text file?

Regards

Ian Barwick