CODEWITHSUNDEEP
postgresqlpsql
Vishnu
Vishnu

Reputation: 21

How to fix syntax error at or near “psql” in psql shell Windows

lecture3-# SELECT * FROM flights;
ERROR:  syntax error at or near "psql"
LINE 1: psql

This was the code and error. I have added the path link on Environment Variables> System variables> Path edited and added two links underneath

So, if my links are proper why it is showing this

ERROR: syntax error at or near "psql"

Upvotes: 2

Views: 13175

Answers (3)

Dhaanvi
Dhaanvi

Reputation: 11

The solution from – user330315 worked for me. Silly mistake to run psql from the pgadmin psql command prompt. I ran the same query with semicolon from the windows command prompt, it worked! The directory i used was programFiles/posgresql/bin folder.

Upvotes: 1

JMM
JMM

Reputation: 13

When writing in psql the answer is the semicolon!

You can close out your former syntax error(s) and move on by simply using ";"

For example: Here I have accidently pressed "k" and hit enter and then wrote my intended code:

mydb=# k
mydb=# SELECT * FROM person
mydb-# WHERE country_of_birth = 'Poland';

When I tried to run the code it hit me with the following error.

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "k"
LINE 1: k
        ^

The solution:

mydb=# ;

By entering the semicolon, it retroactively closed out the accidental k query with no result and now I am able to re-run my intended code and get an error free result.

Upvotes: 0

Juliano Atanazio
Juliano Atanazio

Reputation: 91

This happened because you had an unfinished statement from earlier. So, or you finish it or abort it.

Your psql prompt indicates this.

Statement without ";":

<DATABASE>=# <SOME UNFINISHED STATEMENT...>

And then a simple query in catalog:

<DATABASE>-# SELECT * FROM pg_settings;

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "some"
LINE 1: <SOME UNFINISHED STATEMENT...>
        ^

Notice that your prompt changed from "=#" to "-#". The "-#" indicates that there is a statement that isn't finished.

Let's try again:

<DATABASE>=# <SOME UNFINISHED STATEMENT...>

Abort with <Ctrl>+<C>

<DATABASE>-# ^C

Your prompt is ready again :)

<DATABASE>=#

Upvotes: 9

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