Thanks for the link / explanation -- hadn't seen this use before. GW ----- Original Message ----- > From: Adrian Klaver <adrian.klaver@xxxxxxxxx> > To: Greg Williamson <gwilliamson39@xxxxxxxxx> > Cc: "pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 3:13 PM > Subject: Re: ERROR: syntax error at or near ":" > > On 03/06/2013 03:04 PM, Greg Williamson wrote: >> >> >> Graham -- >> >>> ________________________________ >>> From: Graham Leggett <minfrin@xxxxxxxx> >>> To: "pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" > <pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 2:41 PM >>> Subject: ERROR: syntax error at or near ":" >>> >>> 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... >>> ^ >>> >> The colon (":") is not needed, just remove it. A pair of colons > is used to indicate a cast of a value; off hand I am not coming up with any use > of a colon in basic SQL. > > http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/interactive/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-INTERPOLATION > >> >> Greg W. >> >> >> > > > -- > Adrian Klaver > adrian.klaver@xxxxxxxxx > > > -- > Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) > To make changes to your subscription: > http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general > -- Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general