CHAR vs TEXT args

[David Shadovitz]

I've created two PL/pgSQL functions with the same name and different
signatures:

CREATE FUNCTION ABC(CHAR) ...
CREATE FUNCTION ABC(TEXT) ....

I intended to call the CHAR-signature function like this:
SELECT ABC('R');

And the TEXT-signature function like this:
SELECT ABC('Right');

But I found that both calls invoke the TEXT-signature function. So is
there any distinction between CHAR and TEXT? Can I somehow specify
that the argument 'R' is to be treated as a CHAR, so the
CHAR-signature version of ABC is executed?

Thanks.
-David

[Joe Conway]

David Shadovitz wrote:

I intended to call the CHAR-signature function like this:
SELECT ABC('R');

And the TEXT-signature function like this:
SELECT ABC('Right');

But I found that both calls invoke the TEXT-signature function. So is
there any distinction between CHAR and TEXT? Can I somehow specify
that the argument 'R' is to be treated as a CHAR, so the
CHAR-signature version of ABC is executed?

If you want to force the CHAR version, do something like:
SELECT ABC('R'::char);

See:
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/view....TAX-TYPE-CASTS

HTH,

Joe
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[David Shadovitz]

Thanks, Joe and Dennis.

That double-colon type cast did the trick.

As an experienced software engineer, but a newcomer to PostgreSQL, I
appreciate the help.

-David