Return value of 'serial' column on insert

Hi all,

   I have several tables with an 'id' column which is a simple 'serial
unique' type. Often when I insert a record the next thing I need is to
add or edit another table elsewhere using the ID of the entry I just
added. Currently what I do is:

SELECT <table>_id FROM <table> ORDER BY <table>_id DESC LIMIT 1;

   and assume (safely thus far) that the returned value is the one I
just created. Obviously this is bulky and, should by chance another
column be added in that time between insert and read, I would get the
wrong value.

   Is there a way to do an INSERT (in perl, btw) where pgSQL returns the
value just created by the same INSERT? Thanks!

Madison

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Madison Kelly (Digimer)
TLE-BU, The Linux Experience; Back Up
http://tle-bu.thelinuxexperience.com
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