PostgreSQL raises error 22014 when NTILE receives a bucket count that is NULL, non-integer, or less than 1.
invalid_argument_for_ntile_function occurs when NTILE() receives a NULL, non-integer, or value below 1. Pass a positive integer expression or CAST the value to INT to resolve the error.
invalid_argument_for_ntile_function Error 22014
PostgreSQL throws error 22014 when the NTILE window function is called with an invalid bucket count. The argument must be a non-null, positive integer. If the value is NULL, negative, zero, or non-numeric, the planner aborts execution.
The error appears at runtime during SELECT execution, so faulty data or expressions may pass earlier syntax checks.
Fixing the bucket argument restores NTILE output and allows ordered result partitioning.
Error 22014 fires when NTILE() cannot convert its argument to a valid positive integer. The function validates at execution time, not parse time.
Always supply a positive INTEGER expression. Explicitly CAST dynamic inputs or use COALESCE to fallback on a safe default.
Validate user-supplied values before sending the query to the database.
Dynamic parameters coming from application code often arrive as text or NULL. Convert them with CAST(:buckets AS INT) and wrap with GREATEST(:buckets,1).
Use CHECK constraints or application-side validation to guarantee bucket counts.
In Galaxy, SQL linting and AI copilot surface improper NTILE arguments before execution, reducing runtime surprises.
Similar runtime data errors include division_by_zero, null_value_not_allowed, and numeric_value_out_of_range. They follow the same pattern: validate inputs early and CAST explicitly.
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No. NTILE allows more buckets than rows; some buckets may be empty.
No. The argument must be a constant or scalar expression evaluated once, not per row.
When using text placeholders, CAST ensures PostgreSQL sees a valid integer and avoids 22014.
Galaxy's AI copilot flags non-integer NTILE arguments and suggests explicit CASTs before you run the query.
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