BUG #4030: Inconsistency: ORDER BY clauses involving column aliases

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference: 4030
Logged by: Dave Gurnell
Email address: d.j.gurnell@gmail.com
PostgreSQL version: 8.2.5
Operating system: Mac OS X / Debian
Description: Inconsistency: ORDER BY clauses involving column aliases
Details:

Hi,

I've noticed a possible inconsistency in the way PostgreSQL 8.2.5 renders
ORDER BY clauses.

Here is an example:

Create a table:

create table numbers (a integer, b integer, c integer);

Run a query ordered on aliases of its columns:

select x.a as xa, x.b as xb, x.c as xc from numbers as x order by xa,
xb, xc;

xa | xb | xc
----+----+----
(0 rows)

Run a query ordered on an expression involving these aliases:

test=# select x.a as xa, x.b as xb, x.c as xc from numbers as x order by
(xa + xb + xc);
ERROR: column "xa" does not exist
LINE 1: ... x.b as xb, x.c as xc from numbers as x order by (xa + xb +
...

Is this expected behaviour or is it a bug?

Many thanks,

-- Dave