PostgreSQL Syntax error in PGAdmin

I am new to PostgreSQL and am using the query tool in PGAdmin. I'm trying to run pgsql queries that use variables, but I can't seem to g开发者_开发百科et the syntax right.

Here's a sample query that gives a syntax error:

DECLARE
  num INTEGER;

BEGIN

  num := 3;
  PRINT num;

END;

Update:

Ok, let me try and explain. I come from a SQL server background. In the management studio, I can open a query window and play with (T)-SQL queries.

For example, I can write something like this:

DECLARE @num INT
SET @num = 3
SELECT @num

I know this is a dumb example, but I'm just trying to declare a variable and do something with it. I'm trying to familiarise myself with PL/PGSQL.

Update, again:

It's me again. I'm trying the script below and get a "[ERROR ] 7.0-2: syntax error, unexpected character". Is this meant to work in PGAdmin?

DECLARE
  num INTEGER;

BEGIN

  num := 3;
  RAISE NOTICE '%', num;

END;

You can use the do statement. For example:

do $$
declare 
  num integer := 10;
begin

    RAISE INFO 'VARIABLE: %', num;

end;
$$language plpgsql;

When you use pgadmin you have to use the button EXECUTE QUERY instead of Execute pdScript, as it is explained here:

http://postgresql.1045698.n5.nabble.com/PgAmin3-Anonymous-code-block-can-t-be-executed-by-pressing-quot-Execute-PG-script-quot-button-td5771073.html

The documentation for do statements is here:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.3/static/sql-do.html

Just to rephrase and "concretize" what others say: There are no inline procedures in PostgreSQL. There is also no PRINT statement. You have to:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION test() RETURNS void AS $$
DECLARE
  num INTEGER;

BEGIN

  num := 3;
  RAISE NOTICE '%', num;

END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

SELECT test();

If you're trying to print out num (say, for debugging), you could try:

RAISE NOTICE '%', num;

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/plpgsql-errors-and-messages.html

PRINT doesn't mean anything in PL/pgSQL.

I have no idea what you are trying to achieve. PostgreSQL doesn't support this kind of syntax. Similar keywords (except PRINT?!) are in PL/pgSQL which is procedural language for building FUNCTIONS, not for writing stand-alone SQL queries.

Postgres doesn't support anything like that by itself (yet). psql (the official command line client) has some rudimentary scripting.

The best option for you is pgAdmin which already has scripting built-in.