Nested transactions in postgresql 8.2?

Question

I\'m working on scripts that apply database schema updates. I\'ve setup all my SQL update scripts using start transaction/commit. I pass these scripts to psql on the command

Answer 1

Well you have the possibility to use nested transactions inside postgresql using SavePoints.

Take this code example:

CREATE TABLE t1 (a integer PRIMARY KEY);

CREATE FUNCTION test_exception() RETURNS boolean LANGUAGE plpgsql AS
$$BEGIN
   INSERT INTO t1 (a) VALUES (1);
   INSERT INTO t1 (a) VALUES (2);
   INSERT INTO t1 (a) VALUES (1);
   INSERT INTO t1 (a) VALUES (3);
   RETURN TRUE;
EXCEPTION
   WHEN integrity_constraint_violation THEN
      RAISE NOTICE 'Rollback to savepoint';
      RETURN FALSE;
END;$$;

BEGIN;

SELECT test_exception();
NOTICE:  Rollback to savepoint
 test_exception 
----------------
 f
(1 row)

COMMIT;

SELECT count(*) FROM t1;
 count 
-------
     0
(1 row)

Maybe this will help you out a little bit.

Answer 2

I've ended up 'solving' my problem out of band - I use a perl script to re-work the input scripts to eliminate their start transaction/commit calls, then push them all into one file, which gets it's own start transaction/commit.