Provided by: libpqtypes-dev_1.5.1-2_amd64 bug

NAME

       pqt-composites - A manual for libpqtypes composite handling.

NOTE TO READER

       Please  read  the pqt-specs(3) manual page prior to this document.  This document does not
       explain how to put or get data types.  It only describes how to put or get composites  and
       composite arrays.

DESCRIPTION

       A composite is put using the PGparam structure.  Each attribute of a composite is put into
       a PGparam.  When all attributes have been put, the PGparam is put  into  another  PGparam.
       Composites must be registered on a per connection basis, `man pqt-handlers(3)´.

       To  get a composite, a PGresult structure is used.  Each composite attribute is a field of
       the result.  For non-array composites, there is always only one tuple.

       Composites are only handled using binary format.  This means  that  any  type  used  as  a
       composite  attribute must be put and gotten in binary format.  If a user-defined type does
       not implement a send and recv function in the backend, it can not be used as  a  composite
       attribute.

   Simple Composite Example
       This example demostrates the basics of putting and getting a composite type.
              CREATE TYPE simple AS (a int4, t text);

              PGregisterType type = {"simple", NULL, NULL};

              /* need to register the simple composite */
              PQregisterTypes(conn, PQT_COMPOSITE, &type, 1, 0);

              /* Composite attributes are put into PGparam structures */
              PGparam *simple = PQparamCreate(conn);

              /* put the simple composite attributes */
              PQputf(simple, "%int4 %text*", 45, "foobar");

              /* Put an int4 and a simple composite */
              PGparam *param = PQparamCreate(conn);
              PQputf(param, "%int4 %simple", 10, simple);
              PQparamClear(simple);

              /* exec an insert */
              res = PQparamExec(conn, param, "INSERT INTO t VALUES($1,$2)", resfmt);
              PQparamClear(param);

              /* -------------------------
               * Getting a composite
               */

              PGint4 i4;
              PGtext textp;
              char text[80];
              PGresult *simple;

              /* Get a simple composite, provide a ptr to a PGresult ptr. */
              PQgetf(result, 0, "%simple", 0, &simple);

              /* no longer needed */
              PQclear(result);

              /* Get the simple composite attributes from the simple result.
               * Reference fields by name by using a '#' rather than a '%'.
               * The field names are the composite attributes.
               */
              PQgetf(simple, 0, "#int4 #text", "a", &i4, "t", &textp);
              strcpy(text, textp);
              PQclear(simple);

       In the above example, we used the ´#´ specifier mark to reference
       fields by their name.  The field names for a composite result object
       are the composite attribute names.

   Nested Composite example:
       The  below  example  puts and gets a nested composite.  The simple composite is used as an
       attribute within the complex composite.
              CREATE TYPE simple AS (a int4, t text)
              CREATE TYPE complex AS (f8 float8, s simple);

              /* need to register simple and complex */
              PGregisterType types[] = {
                   {"simple", NULL, NULL},
                   {"complex", NULL, NULL}
              };

              PQregisterTypes(conn, PQT_COMPOSITE, types, 2, 0);

              /* Composite attributes are put into PGparam structures */
              PGparam *simple = PQparamCreate(conn);
              PGparam *complex = PQparamCreate(conn);

              /* put the simple composite attributes */
              PQputf(simple, "%int4 %text*", 45, "foobar");

              /* put the complex composite attributes, which includes
               * a nested composite.
               */
              PQputf(complex, "%float8 %simple", 111.2223334, simple);

              /* no longer needed */
              PQparamClear(simple);

              /* Put an int4 and a complex composite */
              PGparam *param = PQparamCreate(conn);
              PQputf(param, "%int4 %complex", 10, complex);
              PQparamClear(complex);

              /* exec an insert */
              res = PQparamExec(conn, param, "INSERT INTO t VALUES($1,$2)", resfmt);
              PQparamClear(param);

              /* -------------------------
               * Getting a nested composite
               */

              PGfloat8 f8;
              PGint4 i4;
              PGtext textp;
              char text[80];
              PGresult *complex;
              PGresult *simple;

              /* Get the complex composite, provide a ptr to a PGresult ptr. */
              PQgetf(result, 0, "%complex", 0, &complex);

              /* no longer needed */
              PQclear(result);

              /* Get the complex composite attributes from the complex result.
               * Composite attributes are the result fields.  When getting
               * a single composite, non-array, only tuple 0 will exist.
               * For the nested simple composite, we again provide a ptr to
               * a PGresult ptr.
               */
              PQgetf(complex, 0, "%float8 %simple", 0, &f8, 1, &simple);

              /* no longer needed */
              PQclear(complex);

              /* Get the simple composite attributes from the simple result.
               * Reference fields by name by using a '#' rather than a '%'.
               */
              PQgetf(simple, 0, "#int4 #text", "a", &i4, "t", &textp);
              strcpy(text, textp);
              PQclear(simple);

   An array of composites:
       This example makes an array of complex composites.  It builds off the previous example.
              int i;
              PGarray complex_arr;
              PGparam *simple = PQparamCreate(conn);
              PGparam *complex = PQparamCreate(conn);

              complex_arr.ndims = 0;
              complex_arr.param = PQparamCreate(conn);

              for(i=0; i < 100; i++)
              {
                /* put the simple composite attributes */
                PQputf(simple, "%int4 %text*", 45, "foobar");

                /* put the complex composite attributes, which includes
                 * a nested composite.
                 */
                PQputf(complex, "%float8 %simple", 111.2223334, simple);

                /* put the complex composite */
                PQputf(complex_arr.param, "%complex", complex);

                /* You must reset the simple and complex composites for
                 * the next loop iteration.
                 */
                PQparamReset(simple);
                PQparamReset(complex);
              }

              /* not needed anymore */
              PQparamClear(simple);
              PQparamClear(complex);

              /* Put a complex composite array */
              PGparam *param = PQparamCreate(conn);
              PQputf(param, "%complex[]", &complex_arr);
              PQparamClear(complex_arr.param);

              /* exec an insert */
              res = PQparamExec(conn, param, "INSERT INTO t VALUES($1)", resfmt);
              PQparamClear(param);

              /* -------------------------
               * Getting an array of composites
               */

              int i;
              int ntups;
              PGfloat8 f8;
              PGint4 i4;
              PGtext textp;
              PGresult *simple;
              PGarray complex_arr;

              /* Get the complex[], provide a ptr to a PGarray. */
              PQgetf(exec_result, 0, "%complex[]", 0, &complex_arr);

              /* no longer needed */
              PQclear(exec_result);

              ntups = PQntuples(complex_arr.res);
              for(i=0; i < ntups; i++)
              {
                PQgetf(complex_arr.res, i, "%float8 %simple", 0, &f8, 1, &simple);

                /* Nested composites are like any other composite, tuple 0!  Unless,
                 * its a nested composite array.
                 */
                PQgetf(simple, 0, "#int4 #text", "a", &i4, "t", &textp);

                printf("(%f, (%d, %s))\n", f8, i4, textp);
                PQclear(simple);
              }

              PQclear(complex_arr.res);

EXAMPLES

       None.

AUTHOR

       A contribution of eSilo, LLC. for the PostgreSQL Database Management System.   Written  by
       Andrew Chernow and Merlin Moncure.

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs to <libpqtypes@esilo.com>.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2011 eSilo, LLC. All rights reserved.
       This  is  free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not
       even for MERCHANTABILITY or  FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO

       PQgetf(3), PQputf(3), PQputvf(3)