PostgreSQL: Create table if not exists AS

Question

I\'m using PostgreSQL and am an SQL beginner. I\'m trying to create a table from a query, and if I run:

CREATE TABLE table_name AS
   (....query...)
<         


        

Answer 1

CTAS (Create Table AS) for REDSHIFT PLPGSQL flavor. Shout out to Erwin Brandstetter for the root idea using pure PG syntax.

CREATE
OR
REPLACE
PROCEDURE pipeline.sp_create_table_if_not_exists_as (sch VARCHAR, tbl VARCHAR, qry VARCHAR, tbl_attrs VARCHAR)
 AS
    /*
     specifically an exception for CTAS functionality: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/redshift/latest/dg/r_CREATE_TABLE_AS.html
    */
$$
BEGIN

IF EXISTS (
   SELECT 1
   FROM   pg_catalog.pg_class c
   JOIN   pg_catalog.pg_namespace n ON n.oid = c.relnamespace
   WHERE  n.nspname = sch
   AND    c.relname = tbl
   ) THEN

   RAISE INFO 'Table already exists: %.%', sch, tbl;
ELSE
    EXECUTE 'CREATE TABLE ' || sch || '.' || tbl || ' ' || tbl_attrs || ' AS ' || qry;
    RAISE INFO 'Table created successfully: %.%, using query: [%], optional attributes: [%]', sch, tbl, qry, tbl_attrs;
END IF;

END;
$$
language plpgsql;