Postgres CREATE/DROP DATABASE sometimes cause a syntax error

Question

I sometimes get syntax error at or near the commands, but the next try it works fine.

DROP DATABASE:

Superman-# DROP DATABASE a;
ERROR:  syntax error at or near "DROP"
LINE 2: DROP DATABASE a;
        ^
Superman=# DROP DATABASE a;
DROP DATABASE

and also the CREAT DATABASE:

Superman=# CREATE DATABSE task1database;
ERROR:  syntax error at or near "DATABSE"
LINE 1: CREATE DATABSE task1database;
           ^
Superman=# CREATE DATABASE a;
CREATE DATABASE
Superman=# CREATE DATABASE task1database;
CREATE DATABASE

DATABSE in your second example in the error message should tell you something. Does DATABSE look right? — Ken White
– Ken White, Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 1:28
Maybe you didn't finish the previous line correctly, like forgetting a semicolon? — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 1:54

Laurenz Albe · Accepted Answer · 2019-11-27 07:11:06Z

9

Observe the prompt in the first line:

Superman-#

The - is a sign that this is a continuation line, that is, you didn't finish whatever you wrote on the previous line with a semicolon.

The resulting SQL statement that is sent to the server is everything since the last semicolon, so the DROP DATABASE is somewhere in the middle of the string and causes a syntax error.

Always observe the prompt, and if it does not contain a =, you can clear the buffer by pressing Ctrl+C.

The second example is just a typo in DATABSE.

answered Nov 27, 2019 at 7:11

Laurenz Albe

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1 Comment

user330315 Over a year ago

I find the default prompts too subtle in psql. I use \set PROMPT2 '...> ' to make the "continuation line" be way more obvious.

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