NEXTVAL

Returns the next value in a sequence. Call NEXTVAL after creating a sequence to initialize the sequence with its default value. Thereafter, call NEXTVAL to increment the sequence value for ascending sequences, or decrement its value for descending sequences.

Syntax

NEXTVAL ('[[database.]schema.]sequence')

Parameters

[database.]schema

Specifies a schema, by default public. If schema is any schema other than public, you must supply the schema name. For example:

myschema.thisDbObject

If you specify a database, it must be the current database.

sequence

Identifies the target sequence.

Privileges

SELECT privilege on sequence
USAGE privilege on sequence schema

Restrictions

You cannot invoke NEXTVAL in a SELECT statement, in the following contexts:

WHERE clause
GROUP BY clause
ORDER BY clause
DISTINCT clause
UNION
Subquery

You also cannot invoke NEXTVAL to act on a sequence in:

UPDATE or DELETE subqueries
Views

You can use subqueries to work around some of these restrictions. For example, to use sequences with a DISTINCT clause:

=> SELECT t.col1, shift_allocation_seq.NEXTVAL FROM (
     SELECT DISTINCT col1 FROM av_temp1) t;

Examples

See Creating and Using Named Sequences.