I tried but couldn't find an answer if this is possible in psql. Create a file named test.sql select * from mytable where id = ? (or use $1, $2...) Then in psql do \i test.sql 337
to achieve the same effect "select * from mytable where id=337" as I would in perl $sth = $dbh -> prepare ("insert into mytable values (?, ?, ?)") Is writing a function the only way? Is there another way that can be done without writing a function? Thanks, Ben Kim ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 6: Have you searched our list archives? http://archives.postgresql.org