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author | Thomas G. Lockhart <lockhart@fourpalms.org> | 2001-10-03 05:29:27 +0000 |
---|---|---|
committer | Thomas G. Lockhart <lockhart@fourpalms.org> | 2001-10-03 05:29:27 +0000 |
commit | 3e1beda2cde3495f41290e1ece5d544525810214 (patch) | |
tree | 25a07c51bba4a23b3fd4e02261064146bb7c884c /src/backend/utils | |
parent | a51de40fb60c0679d1987c25a2d3e47689be98d5 (diff) | |
download | postgresql-3e1beda2cde3495f41290e1ece5d544525810214.tar.gz postgresql-3e1beda2cde3495f41290e1ece5d544525810214.zip |
Implement precision support for timestamp and time, both with and without
time zones.
SQL99 spec requires a default of zero (round to seconds) which is set
in gram.y as typmod is set in the parse tree. We *could* change to a
default of either 6 (for internal compatibility with previous versions)
or 2 (for external compatibility with previous versions).
Evaluate entries in pg_proc wrt the iscachable attribute for timestamp and
other date/time types. Try to recognize cases where side effects like the
current time zone setting may have an effect on results to decide whether
something is cachable or not.
Diffstat (limited to 'src/backend/utils')
-rw-r--r-- | src/backend/utils/adt/date.c | 113 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c | 126 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c | 4 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c | 106 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c | 4 |
5 files changed, 284 insertions, 69 deletions
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c index 36b3a52de25..d35849cd62a 100644 --- a/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c +++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ * * * IDENTIFICATION - * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c,v 1.58 2001/09/28 08:09:10 thomas Exp $ + * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/date.c,v 1.59 2001/10/03 05:29:24 thomas Exp $ * *------------------------------------------------------------------------- */ @@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ #include "utils/timestamp.h" +static void +AdjustTimeForTypmod(TimeADT *time, int32 typmod); + /***************************************************************************** * Date ADT *****************************************************************************/ @@ -425,7 +428,11 @@ Datum time_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { char *str = PG_GETARG_CSTRING(0); - TimeADT time; +#ifdef NOT_USED + Oid typelem = PG_GETARG_OID(1); +#endif + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(2); + TimeADT result; double fsec; struct tm tt, *tm = &tt; @@ -439,9 +446,11 @@ time_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) || (DecodeTimeOnly(field, ftype, nf, &dtype, tm, &fsec, NULL) != 0)) elog(ERROR, "Bad time external representation '%s'", str); - time = ((((tm->tm_hour * 60) + tm->tm_min) * 60) + tm->tm_sec + fsec); + result = ((((tm->tm_hour * 60) + tm->tm_min) * 60) + tm->tm_sec + fsec); + + AdjustTimeForTypmod(&result, typmod); - PG_RETURN_TIMEADT(time); + PG_RETURN_TIMEADT(result); } Datum @@ -452,13 +461,14 @@ time_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) struct tm tt, *tm = &tt; double fsec; + double trem; char buf[MAXDATELEN + 1]; - tm->tm_hour = (time / (60 * 60)); - tm->tm_min = (((int) (time / 60)) % 60); - tm->tm_sec = (((int) time) % 60); - - fsec = 0; + trem = time; + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_hour, 3600e0); + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_min, 60e0); + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_sec, 1e0); + fsec = trem; EncodeTimeOnly(tm, fsec, NULL, DateStyle, buf); @@ -466,6 +476,43 @@ time_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) PG_RETURN_CSTRING(result); } +/* time_scale() + * Adjust time type for specified scale factor. + * Used by PostgreSQL type system to stuff columns. + */ +Datum +time_scale(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) +{ + TimeADT time = PG_GETARG_TIMEADT(0); + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(1); + TimeADT result; + + result = time; + AdjustTimeForTypmod(&result, typmod); + + PG_RETURN_TIMEADT(result); +} + +static void +AdjustTimeForTypmod(TimeADT *time, int32 typmod) +{ + if ((typmod >= 0) && (typmod <= 13)) + { + static double TimeScale = 1; + static int32 TimeTypmod = 0; + + if (typmod != TimeTypmod) + TimeScale = pow(10, typmod); + + *time = (rint(((double) *time)*TimeScale)/TimeScale); + + if (*time >= 86400) + *time -= 86400; + } + + return; +} + Datum time_eq(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) @@ -882,12 +929,15 @@ text_time(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) * Time With Time Zone ADT *****************************************************************************/ - Datum timetz_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { char *str = PG_GETARG_CSTRING(0); - TimeTzADT *time; +#ifdef NOT_USED + Oid typelem = PG_GETARG_OID(1); +#endif + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(2); + TimeTzADT *result; double fsec; struct tm tt, *tm = &tt; @@ -902,12 +952,14 @@ timetz_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) || (DecodeTimeOnly(field, ftype, nf, &dtype, tm, &fsec, &tz) != 0)) elog(ERROR, "Bad time external representation '%s'", str); - time = (TimeTzADT *) palloc(sizeof(TimeTzADT)); + result = (TimeTzADT *) palloc(sizeof(TimeTzADT)); + + result->time = ((((tm->tm_hour * 60) + tm->tm_min) * 60) + tm->tm_sec + fsec); + result->zone = tz; - time->time = ((((tm->tm_hour * 60) + tm->tm_min) * 60) + tm->tm_sec + fsec); - time->zone = tz; + AdjustTimeForTypmod(&(result->time), typmod); - PG_RETURN_TIMETZADT_P(time); + PG_RETURN_TIMETZADT_P(result); } Datum @@ -919,13 +971,15 @@ timetz_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) *tm = &tt; double fsec; int tz; + double trem; char buf[MAXDATELEN + 1]; - tm->tm_hour = (time->time / (60 * 60)); - tm->tm_min = (((int) (time->time / 60)) % 60); - tm->tm_sec = (((int) time->time) % 60); + trem = time->time; + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_hour, 3600e0); + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_min, 60e0); + TMODULO(trem, tm->tm_sec, 1e0); + fsec = trem; - fsec = 0; tz = time->zone; EncodeTimeOnly(tm, fsec, &tz, DateStyle, buf); @@ -934,6 +988,27 @@ timetz_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) PG_RETURN_CSTRING(result); } +/* timetz_scale() + * Adjust time type for specified scale factor. + * Used by PostgreSQL type system to stuff columns. + */ +Datum +timetz_scale(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) +{ + TimeTzADT *time = PG_GETARG_TIMETZADT_P(0); + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(1); + TimeTzADT *result; + + result = (TimeTzADT *) palloc(sizeof(TimeTzADT)); + + result->time = time->time; + result->zone = time->zone; + + AdjustTimeForTypmod(&(result->time), typmod); + + PG_RETURN_TIMETZADT_P(result); +} + static int timetz_cmp_internal(TimeTzADT *time1, TimeTzADT *time2) diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c index 28ca77b64ea..dd17ea36c75 100644 --- a/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c +++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ * * * IDENTIFICATION - * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c,v 1.67 2001/09/28 08:09:10 thomas Exp $ + * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/datetime.c,v 1.68 2001/10/03 05:29:24 thomas Exp $ * *------------------------------------------------------------------------- */ @@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ #include "utils/datetime.h" -#define ROUND_ALL 1 - static int DecodeNumber(int flen, char *field, int fmask, int *tmask, struct tm * tm, double *fsec, int *is2digits); @@ -2173,8 +2171,27 @@ EncodeTimeOnly(struct tm * tm, double fsec, int *tzp, int style, char *str) sec = (tm->tm_sec + fsec); - sprintf(str, "%02d:%02d:", tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); - sprintf((str + 6), ((fsec != 0) ? "%05.2f" : "%02.0f"), sec); + sprintf(str, "%02d:%02d", tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); + + /* If we have fractional seconds, then include a decimal point + * We will do up to 6 fractional digits, and we have rounded any inputs + * to eliminate anything to the right of 6 digits anyway. + * If there are no fractional seconds, then do not bother printing + * a decimal point at all. - thomas 2001-09-29 + */ + if (fsec != 0) { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%013.10f", sec); + /* chop off trailing pairs of zeros... */ + while ((strcmp((str + strlen(str) - 2), "00") == 0) + && (*(str + strlen(str) - 3) != '.')) + { + *(str + strlen(str) - 2) = '\0'; + } + } + else + { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%02.0f", sec); + } if (tzp != NULL) { @@ -2221,9 +2238,28 @@ EncodeDateTime(struct tm * tm, double fsec, int *tzp, char **tzn, int style, cha case USE_ISO_DATES: if (tm->tm_year > 0) { - sprintf(str, "%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:", + sprintf(str, "%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d", tm->tm_year, tm->tm_mon, tm->tm_mday, tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); - sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ((fsec != 0) ? "%05.2f" : "%02.0f"), sec); + + /* If we have fractional seconds, then include a decimal point + * We will do up to 6 fractional digits, and we have rounded any inputs + * to eliminate anything to the right of 6 digits anyway. + * If there are no fractional seconds, then do not bother printing + * a decimal point at all. - thomas 2001-09-29 + */ + if (fsec != 0) { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%013.10f", sec); + /* chop off trailing pairs of zeros... */ + while ((strcmp((str + strlen(str) - 2), "00") == 0) + && (*(str + strlen(str) - 3) != '.')) + { + *(str + strlen(str) - 2) = '\0'; + } + } + else + { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%02.0f", sec); + } if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) { @@ -2261,8 +2297,28 @@ EncodeDateTime(struct tm * tm, double fsec, int *tzp, char **tzn, int style, cha if (tm->tm_year > 0) { - sprintf((str + 5), "/%04d %02d:%02d:%05.2f", - tm->tm_year, tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min, sec); + sprintf((str + 5), "/%04d %02d:%02d", + tm->tm_year, tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); + + /* If we have fractional seconds, then include a decimal point + * We will do up to 6 fractional digits, and we have rounded any inputs + * to eliminate anything to the right of 6 digits anyway. + * If there are no fractional seconds, then do not bother printing + * a decimal point at all. - thomas 2001-09-29 + */ + if (fsec != 0) { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%013.10f", sec); + /* chop off trailing pairs of zeros... */ + while ((strcmp((str + strlen(str) - 2), "00") == 0) + && (*(str + strlen(str) - 3) != '.')) + { + *(str + strlen(str) - 2) = '\0'; + } + } + else + { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%02.0f", sec); + } if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %.*s", MAXTZLEN, *tzn); @@ -2277,8 +2333,28 @@ EncodeDateTime(struct tm * tm, double fsec, int *tzp, char **tzn, int style, cha sprintf(str, "%02d.%02d", tm->tm_mday, tm->tm_mon); if (tm->tm_year > 0) { - sprintf((str + 5), ".%04d %02d:%02d:%05.2f", - tm->tm_year, tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min, sec); + sprintf((str + 5), ".%04d %02d:%02d", + tm->tm_year, tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); + + /* If we have fractional seconds, then include a decimal point + * We will do up to 6 fractional digits, and we have rounded any inputs + * to eliminate anything to the right of 6 digits anyway. + * If there are no fractional seconds, then do not bother printing + * a decimal point at all. - thomas 2001-09-29 + */ + if (fsec != 0) { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%013.10f", sec); + /* chop off trailing pairs of zeros... */ + while ((strcmp((str + strlen(str) - 2), "00") == 0) + && (*(str + strlen(str) - 3) != '.')) + { + *(str + strlen(str) - 2) = '\0'; + } + } + else + { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%02.0f", sec); + } if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %.*s", MAXTZLEN, *tzn); @@ -2305,18 +2381,30 @@ EncodeDateTime(struct tm * tm, double fsec, int *tzp, char **tzn, int style, cha if (tm->tm_year > 0) { sprintf((str + 10), " %02d:%02d", tm->tm_hour, tm->tm_min); - if (fsec != 0) - { - sprintf((str + 16), ":%05.2f %04d", sec, tm->tm_year); - if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) - sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %.*s", MAXTZLEN, *tzn); + + /* If we have fractional seconds, then include a decimal point + * We will do up to 6 fractional digits, and we have rounded any inputs + * to eliminate anything to the right of 6 digits anyway. + * If there are no fractional seconds, then do not bother printing + * a decimal point at all. - thomas 2001-09-29 + */ + if (fsec != 0) { + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%013.10f", sec); + /* chop off trailing pairs of zeros... */ + while ((strcmp((str + strlen(str) - 2), "00") == 0) + && (*(str + strlen(str) - 3) != '.')) + { + *(str + strlen(str) - 2) = '\0'; + } } else { - sprintf((str + 16), ":%02.0f %04d", sec, tm->tm_year); - if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) - sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %.*s", MAXTZLEN, *tzn); + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), ":%02.0f", sec); } + + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %04d", tm->tm_year); + if ((*tzn != NULL) && (tm->tm_isdst >= 0)) + sprintf((str + strlen(str)), " %.*s", MAXTZLEN, *tzn); } else { diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c index f115657102d..797586018d0 100644 --- a/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c +++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c @@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ * * 1998 Jan Wieck * - * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c,v 1.43 2001/08/14 22:21:58 tgl Exp $ + * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/numeric.c,v 1.44 2001/10/03 05:29:24 thomas Exp $ * * ---------- */ @@ -193,10 +193,8 @@ Datum numeric_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { char *str = PG_GETARG_CSTRING(0); - #ifdef NOT_USED Oid typelem = PG_GETARG_OID(1); - #endif int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(2); NumericVar value; diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c index 1bd42689659..8bd0daf2bf6 100644 --- a/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c +++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ * * * IDENTIFICATION - * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c,v 1.51 2001/09/28 08:09:11 thomas Exp $ + * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/timestamp.c,v 1.52 2001/10/03 05:29:24 thomas Exp $ * *------------------------------------------------------------------------- */ @@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ static double time2t(const int hour, const int min, const double sec); static int EncodeSpecialTimestamp(Timestamp dt, char *str); static Timestamp dt2local(Timestamp dt, int timezone); +static void +AdjustTimestampForTypmod(Timestamp *time, int32 typmod); /***************************************************************************** @@ -45,6 +47,10 @@ Datum timestamp_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { char *str = PG_GETARG_CSTRING(0); +#ifdef NOT_USED + Oid typelem = PG_GETARG_OID(1); +#endif + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(2); Timestamp result; double fsec; struct tm tt, @@ -89,6 +95,8 @@ timestamp_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) TIMESTAMP_NOEND(result); } + AdjustTimestampForTypmod(&result, typmod); + PG_RETURN_TIMESTAMP(result); } @@ -98,7 +106,7 @@ timestamp_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) Datum timestamp_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { - Timestamp dt = PG_GETARG_TIMESTAMP(0); + Timestamp timestamp = PG_GETARG_TIMESTAMP(0); char *result; struct tm tt, *tm = &tt; @@ -106,9 +114,9 @@ timestamp_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) char *tzn = NULL; char buf[MAXDATELEN + 1]; - if (TIMESTAMP_NOT_FINITE(dt)) - EncodeSpecialTimestamp(dt, buf); - else if (timestamp2tm(dt, NULL, tm, &fsec, NULL) == 0) + if (TIMESTAMP_NOT_FINITE(timestamp)) + EncodeSpecialTimestamp(timestamp, buf); + else if (timestamp2tm(timestamp, NULL, tm, &fsec, NULL) == 0) EncodeDateTime(tm, fsec, NULL, &tzn, DateStyle, buf); else elog(ERROR, "Unable to format timestamp; internal coding error"); @@ -117,6 +125,42 @@ timestamp_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) PG_RETURN_CSTRING(result); } +/* timestamp_scale() + * Adjust time type for specified scale factor. + * Used by PostgreSQL type system to stuff columns. + */ +Datum +timestamp_scale(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) +{ + Timestamp timestamp = PG_GETARG_TIMESTAMP(0); + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(1); + Timestamp result; + + result = timestamp; + + if (! TIMESTAMP_NOT_FINITE(result)) + AdjustTimestampForTypmod(&result, typmod); + + PG_RETURN_TIMESTAMP(result); +} + +static void +AdjustTimestampForTypmod(Timestamp *time, int32 typmod) +{ + if ((typmod >= 0) && (typmod <= 13)) + { + static double TimestampScale = 1; + static int32 TimestampTypmod = 0; + + if (typmod != TimestampTypmod) + TimestampScale = pow(10, typmod); + + *time = (rint(((double) *time)*TimestampScale)/TimestampScale); + } + + return; +} + /* timestamptz_in() * Convert a string to internal form. @@ -125,6 +169,10 @@ Datum timestamptz_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) { char *str = PG_GETARG_CSTRING(0); +#ifdef NOT_USED + Oid typelem = PG_GETARG_OID(1); +#endif + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(2); TimestampTz result; double fsec; struct tm tt, @@ -169,6 +217,8 @@ timestamptz_in(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) TIMESTAMP_NOEND(result); } + AdjustTimestampForTypmod(&result, typmod); + PG_RETURN_TIMESTAMPTZ(result); } @@ -198,6 +248,25 @@ timestamptz_out(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) PG_RETURN_CSTRING(result); } +/* timestamptz_scale() + * Adjust time type for specified scale factor. + * Used by PostgreSQL type system to stuff columns. + */ +Datum +timestamptz_scale(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) +{ + TimestampTz timestamp = PG_GETARG_TIMESTAMP(0); + int32 typmod = PG_GETARG_INT32(1); + TimestampTz result; + + result = timestamp; + + if (! TIMESTAMP_NOT_FINITE(result)) + AdjustTimestampForTypmod(&result, typmod); + + PG_RETURN_TIMESTAMPTZ(result); +} + /* interval_in() * Convert a string to internal form. @@ -2119,16 +2188,13 @@ timestamp_part(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) text *units = PG_GETARG_TEXT_P(0); Timestamp timestamp = PG_GETARG_TIMESTAMP(1); float8 result; - int tz; int type, val; int i; char *up, *lp, lowunits[MAXDATELEN + 1]; - double dummy; double fsec; - char *tzn; struct tm tt, *tm = &tt; @@ -2152,24 +2218,10 @@ timestamp_part(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) PG_RETURN_FLOAT8(result); } - if ((type == UNITS) && (timestamp2tm(timestamp, &tz, tm, &fsec, &tzn) == 0)) + if ((type == UNITS) && (timestamp2tm(timestamp, NULL, tm, &fsec, NULL) == 0)) { switch (val) { - case DTK_TZ: - result = tz; - break; - - case DTK_TZ_MINUTE: - result = tz / 60; - TMODULO(result, dummy, 60e0); - break; - - case DTK_TZ_HOUR: - dummy = tz; - TMODULO(dummy, result, 3600e0); - break; - case DTK_MICROSEC: result = (fsec * 1000000); break; @@ -2222,11 +2274,13 @@ timestamp_part(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) result = (tm->tm_year / 1000); break; + case DTK_TZ: + case DTK_TZ_MINUTE: + case DTK_TZ_HOUR: default: elog(ERROR, "Timestamp units '%s' not supported", lowunits); result = 0; } - } else if (type == RESERV) { @@ -2237,14 +2291,14 @@ timestamp_part(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS) break; case DTK_DOW: - if (timestamp2tm(timestamp, &tz, tm, &fsec, &tzn) != 0) + if (timestamp2tm(timestamp, NULL, tm, &fsec, NULL) != 0) elog(ERROR, "Unable to encode timestamp"); result = j2day(date2j(tm->tm_year, tm->tm_mon, tm->tm_mday)); break; case DTK_DOY: - if (timestamp2tm(timestamp, &tz, tm, &fsec, &tzn) != 0) + if (timestamp2tm(timestamp, NULL, tm, &fsec, NULL) != 0) elog(ERROR, "Unable to encode timestamp"); result = (date2j(tm->tm_year, tm->tm_mon, tm->tm_mday) diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c index b142d126c1c..7ed56e7962f 100644 --- a/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c +++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ * * * IDENTIFICATION - * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c,v 1.82 2001/09/11 05:18:59 ishii Exp $ + * $Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/src/backend/utils/adt/varchar.c,v 1.83 2001/10/03 05:29:24 thomas Exp $ * *------------------------------------------------------------------------- */ @@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ * at CREATE TABLE time. * * It's hard to implement these types because we cannot figure out - * the length of the type from the type itself. I change (hopefully all) the + * the length of the type from the type itself. I changed (hopefully all) the * fmgr calls that invoke input functions of a data type to supply the * length also. (eg. in INSERTs, we have the tupleDescriptor which contains * the length of the attributes and hence the exact length of the char() or |