This "bug" was heavily commented on but the behavior was never changed:
Welcome to psql 8.0.0beta2, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal. Type: \copyright for distribution terms \h for help with SQL commands \? for help with psql commands \g or terminate with semicolon to execute query \q to quit alvherre=# select 123456789012345678901234567890 % 123; ?column? ---------- -6 (1 fila) The most relevant part of the thread is here: http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-general/2004-04/msg01065.php -- Alvaro Herrera (<alvherre[a]dcc.uchile.cl>) Thou shalt check the array bounds of all strings (indeed, all arrays), for surely where thou typest "foo" someone someday shall type "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (5th Commandment for C programmers) ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 2: you can get off all lists at once with the unregister command (send "unregister YourEmailAddressHere" to [EMAIL PROTECTED])