How to diagnose and fix the 25005 no_active_sql_transaction_for_branch_transaction error code in Postgres.

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The 25005 error code in PostgreSQL refers to no_active_sql_transaction_for_branch_transaction. This error occurs when an operation that requires an active transaction is attempted without one being in progress. Essentially, it indicates that you’re trying to perform an operation that is only valid within a transaction block when no such block is active.

Here are some examples and sample code to explain and cover the possibilities:

Example 1: Attempting to Create a Savepoint Outside of a Transaction

Savepoints are used to set a point within a transaction to which you can roll back without affecting the entire transaction. However, attempting to create a savepoint outside of an active transaction will result in the 25005 error.

-- Incorrectly creating a savepoint outside of a transaction block
SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

Fix:

Start a transaction block before creating a savepoint.

-- Start a transaction block
BEGIN;

-- Now you can create a savepoint
SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

Example 2: Releasing a Savepoint Without an Active Transaction

Similarly, trying to release a savepoint when there is no active transaction will cause the same error.

-- Attempting to release a savepoint without an active transaction
RELEASE SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

Fix:

Ensure that you are within an active transaction when releasing a savepoint.

-- Assuming a transaction block and savepoint have been previously established
BEGIN;

SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

-- Some operations...

-- Now you can release the savepoint
RELEASE SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

-- End the transaction
COMMIT;

Example 3: Rolling Back to a Savepoint Without an Active Transaction

Trying to roll back to a savepoint when no transaction is active will also trigger the 25005 error.

-- Incorrectly rolling back to a savepoint outside of a transaction block
ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

Fix:

Make sure to roll back to a savepoint within the context of an active transaction.

-- Start a transaction block and establish a savepoint
BEGIN;

SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

-- If needed, you can roll back to the savepoint
ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT my_savepoint;

-- End the transaction
COMMIT;

Example 4: Preparing a Branch Transaction Without an Active Transaction

The PREPARE TRANSACTION command is used to prepare a transaction for a two-phase commit. Attempting to prepare a transaction without being in an active transaction block leads to the 25005 error.

-- Incorrectly preparing a transaction without an active transaction block
PREPARE TRANSACTION 'my_transaction';

Fix:

Ensure that you are in an active transaction block when preparing a transaction.

-- Start a transaction block
BEGIN;

-- Perform transactional operations

-- Prepare the transaction for a two-phase commit
PREPARE TRANSACTION 'my_transaction';

-- After preparing, you can commit or rollback
COMMIT PREPARED 'my_transaction';

To diagnose the 25005 error, review the context in which savepoints or transaction preparations are being used. Ensure that all such operations are taking place within the bounds of an active transaction block. If you encounter this error, the solution is typically to start a transaction with BEGIN before attempting the operation that requires an active transaction.

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