Run a unix or perl command in a trigger

[Thierry Missimilly]

Hi Postgres users,

I wonder to know if it is possible to launch a Perl program or a unix
comand in a trigger function.
I have tried to do that in a C trigger developed with the SPI function.
But my examples does not work and i don't have any error messages in the
postgres logfile.
So, i ask you your opinion and an example of code if your trigger works.

Regards,
Thierry Missimilly
---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 2: you can get off all lists at once with the unregister command
(send "unregister YourEmailAddressHere" to ma*******@postgresql.org)

[Mike Nolan]

> I wonder to know if it is possible to launch a Perl program or a unix

comand in a trigger function.
I have tried to do that in a C trigger developed with the SPI function.
But my examples does not work and i don't have any error messages in the
postgres logfile.
So, i ask you your opinion and an example of code if your trigger works.

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by 'launch'. Do you need to query the
results?

Here's a plperlu function that runs an external shell script.

I've not tried it in a trigger, but it should work. This function
needs to be created as a superuser since it uses 'untrusted' perl.

It creates a security hole in that anyone who has write access to the
postgres user home directory can run ANYTHING.
--
Mike Nolan

create or replace function submit_batch(varchar, varchar)
returns varchar
security invoker
as '

# perl body goes here
# parameters: user ID
# batch id

$command = "/home/postgres/submit_batch.job "
.. "$_[0]" . " " . "$_[1]" ;

$x = system($command);

return $x;
' language plperlu;
---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings