Raised when a string option passed to a foreign data wrapper cannot be parsed.
fdw_invalid_string_format is a PostgreSQL FDW error triggered when a string provided in CREATE/ALTER FOREIGN TABLE, FOREIGN SERVER, or IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA does not meet the required format. Correct the malformed option value or escape characters properly to clear the error.
fdw_invalid_string_format
PostgreSQL raises fdw_invalid_string_format when it cannot parse a text value supplied to a foreign data wrapper (FDW) option or column definition. The value breaks the format rules expected by the FDW extension.
The backend sets SQLSTATE HV00A, class HV (FDW error), and aborts the statement that created or altered a foreign table, server, or user mapping.
The error appears during CREATE FOREIGN TABLE, ALTER FOREIGN TABLE, CREATE SERVER, ALTER SERVER, or IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA.
It can also surface while querying if option strings are validated at execution time.
Most commonly it occurs immediately after running DDL that references an option such as file path, delimiter, or connection string.
Until the faulty option is corrected, the foreign table or server cannot be used.
Queries fail, data pipelines stall, and dependent applications break.
Fixing the error quickly restores external data access and prevents cascading failures in ETL jobs and analytics workloads.
An FDW option string containing unescaped single quotes, missing equals signs, or unsupported key names triggers the exception. Copy-paste from another system often injects hidden characters.
Passing a NULL or empty string where the FDW expects a formatted URI or JSON also causes fdw_invalid_string_format.
Locate the faulty option in CREATE/ALTER statements.
Escape quotes with two single quotes, remove stray whitespace, and ensure key=value pairs are comma separated.
If the FDW expects JSON, validate the JSON with a linter. For file paths, double check absolute paths and permissions.
CSV FDW: wrong delimiter string. Use DELIMITER ',' not DELIMITER ',,'.
postgres_fdw: connection string missing user. Supply options (host 'db', dbname 'sales', user 'fdw_user').
Always parameterize option values in Galaxy or psql scripts.
Validate JSON or URIs before execution.
Use version control to review FDW DDL. Galaxy’s AI copilot highlights unescaped quotes to catch the error pre-execution.
HV00B fdw_invalid_option_name - wrong option key. Fix by using valid option names.
HV00C fdw_invalid_option_value - value type mismatch. Cast or format correctly.
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Yes, if the invalid option belongs to an existing foreign table, any SELECT against it will fail until the option is fixed.
No, any FDW extension can raise it because the error comes from core validation logic.
No, PostgreSQL validates options on DDL execution for safety. Suppression is not possible.
Galaxy’s AI copilot and linter highlight suspicious strings and missing keys during query composition, reducing the chance of committing malformed options.
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