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SQLSTATE / CLASS 22 · DATA EXCEPTION

22014

Read PG 18 manual ↗

invalid_argument_for_ntile_function

SQLSTATE
22014
Condition name
invalid_argument_for_ntile_function
Class
Data Exception
Source macro
ERRCODE_INVALID_ARGUMENT_FOR_NTILE
Evidence
Source path confirmed
Analysis & operational context

English SQLSTATE atlas: authored explanations and source/runtime evidence are separate from the manual definitions. View source ↗

At a glance

ntile received a non-positive bucket count. The fixed window-function path reports argument of ntile must be greater than zero with SQLSTATE 22014.

Meaning

While context->ntile is still zero, before a successful initialization, window_ntile evaluates the bucket argument. A NULL argument returns NULL before setting that state, so a later row may evaluate the argument again; a value less than or equal to zero raises 22014, while a positive count initializes the state and is reused for later rows. An empty input produces no window-function row to evaluate and is not this error.

Diagnosis

Inspect the resolved ntile argument for the affected partition and distinguish three cases: positive count, NULL count, and non-positive count. A NULL count gives a NULL result on rows that are evaluated; an empty partition gives no result at all. Neither should be reported as the non-positive-argument error.

Response

Pass a positive integer bucket count after checking the expression that supplies it. Use COALESCE or another fallback only when the resulting bucket policy is intentional. The fixed guard raises ERROR; in an explicit transaction roll back or return to an existing savepoint before retrying, while autocommit can retry only the corrected statement.

Messages

  • Primary, ERROR: argument of ntile must be greater than zero.
  • The fixed guard adds no DETAIL or HINT.

Versions

The locked catalogue records this condition from 8.4.0; fixed source coverage is PostgreSQL 18.6. The cited behavior is the window-function implementation, not a general argument validator.

Sources

src/backend/utils/adt/windowfuncs.c#L411-L475 shows the partition-row count, NULL early return, positive-count guard, and bucket calculation. Runtime verification is not_run; this source evidence is not a runtime observation. The structured evidence record retains the primary and scope.

Source evidence

Evidence belongs to the frozen source and runtime versions listed here. It is not a runtime verification of the selected manual version.

22014 is invalid_argument_for_ntile_function in SQLSTATE Class 22.

Method: Read the fixed errcodes row and macro.

src.errcodes.18.6

When ntile state is still uninitialized, the function evaluates the bucket argument; NULL returns before initialization, non-positive raises 22014, and a positive count initializes and is reused for later rows.

Method: Read the complete window_ntile initialization, NULL, guard, and distribution path.

Limits: An empty input has no window-function row to evaluate.

src.ntile.18.6

The locked catalogue records 22014 from 8.4.0 without proving an exact implementation introduction date.

Method: Use catalogue presence and history boundaries.

src.errcodes.18.6

Message templates

ERROR · message.nonpositive-buckets

Primary

argument of ntile must be greater than zero

Reproduction & repair cases

No reproduction case is attached to this condition.

Recorded runtime evidence

No runtime observation is attached to this entry.

Definition snapshot: english-manuals:419e971bc7e953c60bde55a0b15… · English manual source