Re: Misplaced double quotes in error message

On 10/6/21 11:17 PM, Thomas Kellerer wrote:
> Hello,
>
> consider the following table, query and error message:
>
>      create table t
>      (
>        "someColumn" int
>      );
>
>      select t.someColumn
>      from t;
>
>
>      ERROR: column t.somecolumn does not exist
>        Hint: Perhaps you meant to reference the column "t.someColumn".
>
>
> For someone proficient in SQL it's pretty clear what the error message means,
> but the quotes can be misleading for someone who doesn't really understand
> what's going on.

FYI, errors are generically double quoted:

ERROR:  invalid input syntax for type integer: "one"

This is not specific to identifier quoting.

>
> I think if the error message quoted the column name the way it should actually
> be used, it would make things easier for someone not used to this, e.g.:
>
>        Hint: Perhaps you meant to reference the column t."someColumn".
>
> Because when the user takes the error message literally they might be tempted
> to use "t.someColumn" just to be confronted with the same error message again
> which then seems even more confusing.
>
>
>
>
>


--
Adrian Klaver
adrian.klaver@aklaver.com