Thread

1. Using COPY via pg_background extension

   Oleg Dushin <oleg.dushin@pbs-software.com> — 2026-02-24T16:13:15Z

   Hello everyone,
   
    
   
   I couldn't find anything on this topic in the mailing lists or in the
   documentation for the 'pg_background' extension.
   
    
   
   https://github.com/vibhorkum/pg_background?tab=readme-ov-file#known-limitati
   ons
   
    
   
   Perhaps I overlooked something. 
   
    
   
   My question is: Is it possible to use the COPY protocol in combination with
   pg_background?
   
    
   
   More specifically, is it possible to load data from a file into a table via
   background worker process?   
   
   COPY country FROM '/usr1/proj/bray/sql/country_data';
   
    
   
   Would the following call or something similar be possible and achieve the
   desired result??
   
    
   
   pg_background_launch_v2('COPY country FROM
   '/usr1/proj/bray/sql/country_data');
   
    
   
   https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-copy.html
   
    
   
   Kind regards,
   
    
   
   Oleg
   
   

2. Re: Using COPY via pg_background extension

   Adrian Klaver <adrian.klaver@aklaver.com> — 2026-02-24T16:28:20Z

   On 2/24/26 8:13 AM, Oleg Dushin wrote:
   > Hello everyone,
   > 
   > I couldn't find anything on this topic in the mailing lists or in the 
   > documentation for the ‘pg_background’ extension.
   > 
   > https://github.com/vibhorkum/pg_background?tab=readme-ov-file#known- 
   > limitations
   > 
   > Perhaps I overlooked something.
   > 
   > My question is: Is it possible to use the COPY protocol in combination 
   > with pg_background?
   > 
   > More specifically, is it possible to load data from a file into a table 
   > via background worker process?
   > 
   > COPY country FROM ‘/usr1/proj/bray/sql/country_data’;
   > 
   > Would the following call or something similar be possible and achieve 
   > the desired result??
   > 
   > pg_background_launch_v2(‘COPY country FROM ’/usr1/proj/bray/sql/ 
   > country_data');
   
   What happens when you try?
   
   Though be aware that COPY needs server user access to the file.
   
   If there is an error I would suggest reporting it here:
   
   https://github.com/vibhorkum/pg_background/issues
   
   > 
   > https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-copy.html
   > 
   > Kind regards,
   > 
   > Oleg
   > 
   
   
   -- 
   Adrian Klaver
   adrian.klaver@aklaver.com
   
   
   
   

3. Re: Using COPY via pg_background extension

   Ron Johnson <ronljohnsonjr@gmail.com> — 2026-02-24T19:21:39Z

   On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 11:13 AM Oleg Dushin <oleg.dushin@pbs-software.com>
   wrote:
   
   > Hello everyone,
   >
   >
   >
   > I couldn't find anything on this topic in the mailing lists or in the
   > documentation for the ‘pg_background’ extension.
   >
   >
   >
   >
   > https://github.com/vibhorkum/pg_background?tab=readme-ov-file#known-limitations
   >
   >
   >
   > Perhaps I overlooked something.
   >
   >
   >
   > My question is: Is it possible to use the COPY protocol in combination
   > with pg_background?
   >
   
   Would "psql run from crontab" serve your purpose just as well?
   
   -- 
   Death to <Redacted>, and butter sauce.
   Don't boil me, I'm still alive.
   <Redacted> lobster!