<!--
-$PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/plpgsql.sgml,v 1.57.4.1 2005/01/22 23:05:47 momjian Exp $
+$PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/plpgsql.sgml,v 1.57.4.2 2005/10/06 21:21:27 neilc Exp $
-->
<chapter id="plpgsql">
don't use <literal>EXCEPTION</> without need.
</para>
</tip>
+
+ <example id="plpgsql-upsert-example">
+ <title>Exceptions with <command>UPDATE</>/<command>INSERT</></title>
+ <para>
+
+
+ This example uses exception handling to perform either
+ <command>UPDATE</> or <command>INSERT</>, as appropriate.
+
+<programlisting>
+CREATE TABLE db (a INT PRIMARY KEY, b TEXT);
+
+CREATE FUNCTION merge_db(key INT, data TEXT) RETURNS VOID AS
+$$
+BEGIN
+ LOOP
+ UPDATE db SET b = data WHERE a = key;
+ IF found THEN
+ RETURN;
+ END IF;
+
+ BEGIN
+ INSERT INTO db(a,b) VALUES (key, data);
+ RETURN;
+ EXCEPTION WHEN unique_violation THEN
+ -- do nothing
+ END;
+ END LOOP;
+END;
+$$
+LANGUAGE plpgsql;
+
+SELECT merge_db(1, 'david');
+SELECT merge_db(1, 'dennis');
+</programlisting>
+
+ </para>
+ </example>
</sect2>
</sect1>