Thread

  1. data dictionary?

    Beth Gatewood <bethg@mbt.washington.edu> — 2000-10-18T19:51:25Z

    Hi-
    
    New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    
    Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    
    can execute SQL against it).
    
    TIA-
    
    Beth
    
    
    
  2. Re: data dictionary?

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-18T19:53:16Z

    if you can see them with \dt you can execute SQL against them ;)
    
    unless you're talking about system tables
    
    On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    
    > Hi-
    > 
    > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > 
    > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > 
    > can execute SQL against it).
    > 
    > TIA-
    > 
    > Beth
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  3. Re: data dictionary?

    Beth Gatewood <bethg@mbt.washington.edu> — 2000-10-18T19:57:07Z

    yes- I figured that was the case and why I sent it to novice ;-)
    
    I am referring to the the system tables (in Oracle the sql  would be something
    like select * from user_tables".
    
    Thanks-
    Beth
    
    "D. Duccini" wrote:
    
    > if you can see them with \dt you can execute SQL against them ;)
    >
    > unless you're talking about system tables
    >
    > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    >
    > > Hi-
    > >
    > > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > >
    > > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > >
    > > can execute SQL against it).
    > >
    > > TIA-
    > >
    > > Beth
    > >
    >
    > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  4. Re: data dictionary?

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-18T19:58:43Z

    On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    
    > Hi-
    > 
    > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > 
    > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > 
    > can execute SQL against it).
    
    Hi Beth,
    
    SELECT * FROM pg_class;
    
    is a good place to start when querying the system catalogue.
    BTW, default tables (sys catalogue) are stored in:
    
    /usr/local/pgsql/data/base/template1
    
    Cheers,
    Tom
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
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  5. Re: data dictionary?

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-18T20:04:52Z

    its a good point. i use oracle almost daily for clients, and have been
    thinking of writing a knock off of sqlplus to take oracle "concepts" like
    "dual" or "sys.tab"
    
    
    > yes- I figured that was the case and why I sent it to novice ;-)
    > 
    > I am referring to the the system tables (in Oracle the sql  would be something
    > like select * from user_tables".
    > 
    > Thanks-
    > Beth
    > 
    > "D. Duccini" wrote:
    > 
    > > if you can see them with \dt you can execute SQL against them ;)
    > >
    > > unless you're talking about system tables
    > >
    > > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    > >
    > > > Hi-
    > > >
    > > > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > > >
    > > > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > > > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > > > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > > >
    > > > can execute SQL against it).
    > > >
    > > > TIA-
    > > >
    > > > Beth
    > > >
    > >
    > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  6. Re: data dictionary?

    Beth Gatewood <bethg@mbt.washington.edu> — 2000-10-18T20:15:10Z

    So does this mean that there is no such thing as System Tables?
    
    I would really like to write some code that would be able to query any database,
    grab out the tables and then do a row count on  each table.  Obviously I could do
    this by hand, singly executing \dt but this will be taking a long time.
    
    Any thought on this?
    
    Thanks-
    Beth
    "D. Duccini" wrote:
    
    > its a good point. i use oracle almost daily for clients, and have been
    > thinking of writing a knock off of sqlplus to take oracle "concepts" like
    > "dual" or "sys.tab"
    >
    > > yes- I figured that was the case and why I sent it to novice ;-)
    > >
    > > I am referring to the the system tables (in Oracle the sql  would be something
    > > like select * from user_tables".
    > >
    > > Thanks-
    > > Beth
    > >
    > > "D. Duccini" wrote:
    > >
    > > > if you can see them with \dt you can execute SQL against them ;)
    > > >
    > > > unless you're talking about system tables
    > > >
    > > > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > Hi-
    > > > >
    > > > > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > > > >
    > > > > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > > > > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > > > > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > > > >
    > > > > can execute SQL against it).
    > > > >
    > > > > TIA-
    > > > >
    > > > > Beth
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > > > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > > > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > > > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > >
    >
    > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  7. Re: data dictionary?

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-18T20:16:37Z

    oh no, there are system tables
    
    check out
    
    /dS
    
    
    On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    
    > So does this mean that there is no such thing as System Tables?
    > 
    > I would really like to write some code that would be able to query any database,
    > grab out the tables and then do a row count on  each table.  Obviously I could do
    > this by hand, singly executing \dt but this will be taking a long time.
    > 
    > Any thought on this?
    > 
    > Thanks-
    > Beth
    > "D. Duccini" wrote:
    > 
    > > its a good point. i use oracle almost daily for clients, and have been
    > > thinking of writing a knock off of sqlplus to take oracle "concepts" like
    > > "dual" or "sys.tab"
    > >
    > > > yes- I figured that was the case and why I sent it to novice ;-)
    > > >
    > > > I am referring to the the system tables (in Oracle the sql  would be something
    > > > like select * from user_tables".
    > > >
    > > > Thanks-
    > > > Beth
    > > >
    > > > "D. Duccini" wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > if you can see them with \dt you can execute SQL against them ;)
    > > > >
    > > > > unless you're talking about system tables
    > > > >
    > > > > On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Beth Gatewood wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > > Hi-
    > > > > >
    > > > > > New to PostGreSQL...previously used Oracle.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Could someone please tell me where the Data Dictionary is located?
    > > > > > Specifically, I want to get a list of tables.  I know about the \dt
    > > > > > command but I would like to see where this is actually stored (so that I
    > > > > >
    > > > > > can execute SQL against it).
    > > > > >
    > > > > > TIA-
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Beth
    > > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > > > > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > > > > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > > > > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > > >
    > >
    > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > > david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    > > +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
    > > +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"
    > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  8. Re: data dictionary?

    Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> — 2000-10-19T01:40:00Z

    Beth Gatewood <bethg@mbt.washington.edu> writes:
    > I would really like to write some code that would be able to query any
    > database, grab out the tables and then do a row count on each table.
    > Obviously I could do this by hand, singly executing \dt but this will
    > be taking a long time.
    
    psql's backslash commands don't do anything you couldn't do for
    yourself.  To see what they're doing, start psql with -E switch to
    make it echo the SQL commands it's sending.
    
    One thing you do have to watch out for is that details of the system
    catalogs tend to change from release to release, so if you do anything
    too fancy you might find it broken at some point in the future...
    
    			regards, tom lane
    
    
  9. Re: changing data type

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-19T05:35:24Z

    can't do it (in 6.x)
    
    the best you can do is
    
    alter table rename column1 to oldcolumn1
    
    alter table add column1 attr type;
    
    then insert into it from the old one
    
    alternately, dump the data out, and reload into your new table
    
    
    
    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, Chris wrote:
    
    > Hi all,
    > 
    > I tried to do a search for this, but couldn't find anything.
    > How do I change a datatype in postgres?
    > eg, change a column from being "text" to "varchar".
    > 
    > Thanks
    > ------------------------
    > Chris Smith
    > http://www.squiz.net
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  10. changing data type

    Chris <csmith@squiz.net> — 2000-10-19T06:18:09Z

    Hi all,
    
    I tried to do a search for this, but couldn't find anything.
    How do I change a datatype in postgres?
    eg, change a column from being "text" to "varchar".
    
    Thanks
    ------------------------
    Chris Smith
    http://www.squiz.net
    
    
  11. Re: changing data type

    Brett W. McCoy <bmccoy@chapelperilous.net> — 2000-10-19T15:04:10Z

    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, D. Duccini wrote:
    
    > can't do it (in 6.x)
    > 
    > the best you can do is
    > 
    > alter table rename column1 to oldcolumn1
    > 
    > alter table add column1 attr type;
    > 
    > then insert into it from the old one
    > 
    > alternately, dump the data out, and reload into your new table
    
    Haven't you people read the online docs?  There's an entire chapter
    (chapter 5 in the 'postgres' document), devoted to type conversion, not to
    mention a listing of type conversion functions (among others) in chapter 4
    of that same document.
    
    I hate answering inquires with just RTFM, but in this case, RTFM! :-)
    
    Brett W. McCoy
                                                  http://www.chapelperilous.net
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.
    		-- Mae West
    
    
    
  12. Re: changing data type

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-19T15:18:06Z

    Dude, chill.
    
    My approach is "generic" and works across just about every SQL database
    manager out there....
    
    peace
    
    -duck
    
    
    > Haven't you people read the online docs?  There's an entire chapter
    > (chapter 5 in the 'postgres' document), devoted to type conversion, not to
    > mention a listing of type conversion functions (among others) in chapter 4
    > of that same document.
    > 
    > I hate answering inquires with just RTFM, but in this case, RTFM! :-)
    > 
    > Brett W. McCoy
    >                                               http://www.chapelperilous.net
    > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.
    > 		-- Mae West
    > 
    
    
    
  13. Re: changing data type

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-19T15:34:33Z

    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000 bmccoy@chapelperilous.net wrote:
    
    > On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, D. Duccini wrote:
    > 
    > > can't do it (in 6.x)
    > > 
    > > the best you can do is
    > > 
    > > alter table rename column1 to oldcolumn1
    > > 
    > > alter table add column1 attr type;
    > > 
    > > then insert into it from the old one
    > > 
    > > alternately, dump the data out, and reload into your new table
    > 
    > Haven't you people read the online docs?  There's an entire chapter
    > (chapter 5 in the 'postgres' document), devoted to type conversion, not to
    > mention a listing of type conversion functions (among others) in chapter 4
    > of that same document.
    > 
    > I hate answering inquires with just RTFM, but in this case, RTFM! :-)
    
    As one of the people who agitated for the creation of a NOVICE list
    back when - one of the original tenets was that no question was too
    naive to be asked.  And no answer of RTFM would ever be appropriate.
    This was based on the FreeBSD newbies list model...
    
    I realise that you are not terribly agitated here Brett but I would
    gently remind you that everyone needs someone to say, 'oh yes, it's
    on the end of your nose' - at least once in awhile (once a day in my
    case.  ;-)
    
    Now back to tripping over my own blunders...
    
    Cheers,
    Tom
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
                   RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  14. Re: changing data type

    Brett W. McCoy <bmccoy@chapelperilous.net> — 2000-10-19T15:37:52Z

    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, D. Duccini wrote:
    
    > My approach is "generic" and works across just about every SQL database
    > manager out there....
    
    That's fine, if one has the luxury of doing that, but dumping the data or
    rebuilding tables won't work in, say, a CGI script where the data needs to
    be converted on the fly.  You also said that there wasn't a way to do it
    in PostgreSQL 6.x, and it's right there in the docs for PostgreSQL 6.x.
    
    Brett W. McCoy
                                                  http://www.chapelperilous.net
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre!
    	[It is magnificent, but it is not war]
    		-- Pierre Bosquet, witnessing the charge of the Light Brigade
    
    
    
  15. Re: changing data type

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-19T16:17:11Z

    You're absolutely right.  I should have said, "i'm not sure, but here's an
    approach"
    
    and uhm, i'd be surprised if someone wants/needs to alter tables from a
    cgi on the fly
    
    unless you're confused about "type casting" -vs- altering tables
    permanently
    
    > > My approach is "generic" and works across just about every SQL database
    > > manager out there....
    > 
    > That's fine, if one has the luxury of doing that, but dumping the data or
    > rebuilding tables won't work in, say, a CGI script where the data needs to
    > be converted on the fly.  You also said that there wasn't a way to do it
    > in PostgreSQL 6.x, and it's right there in the docs for PostgreSQL 6.x.
    > 
    > Brett W. McCoy
    >                                               http://www.chapelperilous.net
    > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre!
    > 	[It is magnificent, but it is not war]
    > 		-- Pierre Bosquet, witnessing the charge of the Light Brigade
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  16. Re: changing data type

    Brett W. McCoy <bmccoy@chapelperilous.net> — 2000-10-19T16:32:31Z

    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, D. Duccini wrote:
    
    > You're absolutely right.  I should have said, "i'm not sure, but here's an
    > approach"
    > 
    > and uhm, i'd be surprised if someone wants/needs to alter tables from a
    > cgi on the fly
    > 
    > unless you're confused about "type casting" -vs- altering tables
    > permanently
    
    Actually, I don't think Chris made that clear, if he was changing the
    actual data types in the table, or wanted a way to change the data type
    inside of a query.  But you can still use the data conversion functions to
    do both.
    
    Brett W. McCoy
                                                  http://www.chapelperilous.net
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Punishment becomes ineffective after a certain point.  Men become insensitive.
    		-- Eneg, "Patterns of Force", stardate 2534.7
    
    
    
  17. Setting Permissions for web viewing

    Kevin Leclaire <kevin@virtualnav.com> — 2000-10-19T17:22:59Z

    What's the cleanest way to set permissions in postgres so that a web
    application can properly view and query a back-end database, but not modify?
    
    I have tried modifying pg_hba.conf, and got it to do a pg_connect()
    successfully, however, the subsequent pg_Exex() call failed with the
    following browser error: "Warning: PostgreSQL query failed: ERROR:
    table_name: Permission denied..."
    
    Thanks!
    
    Kevin
    
    
    
  18. Re: Setting Permissions for web viewing

    D. Duccini <duccini@backpack.com> — 2000-10-19T17:30:42Z

    the problem isn't the database, its the user the webserver is running as
    
    you can solve this by using chown and chmod u+s to make the script
    execute as a known user to the database
    
    the alernate is to pass in a fully qualified connect string specifying
    user/database
    
    -duck
    
    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, Kevin Leclaire wrote:
    
    > What's the cleanest way to set permissions in postgres so that a web
    > application can properly view and query a back-end database, but not modify?
    > 
    > I have tried modifying pg_hba.conf, and got it to do a pg_connect()
    > successfully, however, the subsequent pg_Exex() call failed with the
    > following browser error: "Warning: PostgreSQL query failed: ERROR:
    > table_name: Permission denied..."
    > 
    > Thanks!
    > 
    > Kevin
    > 
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    david@backpack.com            BackPack Software, Inc.        www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.    
    +1 651.645.9798 fax            Don't forget your BackPack!"   
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  19. RE: Setting Permissions for web viewing

    k <kraznus@yahoo.com> — 2000-10-19T20:04:28Z

    The pg_connect command worked as localhost, but then the pg_exec failed with
    permission errors?
    
    If you started from scratch, I think you would need to do the following
    things:
    
    1) determine who the "user" is that the webserver is running as (Suggestions
    on how to do this?)
    
    2) set up that user in postgres with createuser (but I'm unsure how to best
    deal with the password, should it be NULL and then restrict the access or
    should it have a value that you pass as a parameter down the road?  This
    ties into point 4)
    
    3) give that user permissions to access the database tables in the psql
    interface with the "GRANT" command
    
    4) figure out the best way of having the webserver (as "user") connect to
    the database, e.g. the options suggested below (although I assume the first
    option implies that the user is set up with a NULL password?  How would this
    work exactly?)
    
    I'm not an expert on the above, so would also appreciate input on how to
    best accomplish this securely.  Are there any good how-to's on this?
    
    Cheers!
    Robert
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: pgsql-novice-owner@hub.org [mailto:pgsql-novice-owner@hub.org]On
    Behalf Of D. Duccini
    Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 1:31 PM
    To: Kevin Leclaire
    Cc: pgsql-novice@hub.org
    Subject: Re: [NOVICE] Setting Permissions for web viewing
    
    
    
    the problem isn't the database, its the user the webserver is running as
    
    you can solve this by using chown and chmod u+s to make the script
    execute as a known user to the database
    
    the alernate is to pass in a fully qualified connect string specifying
    user/database
    
    -duck
    
    On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, Kevin Leclaire wrote:
    
    > What's the cleanest way to set permissions in postgres so that a web
    > application can properly view and query a back-end database, but not
    modify?
    >
    > I have tried modifying pg_hba.conf, and got it to do a pg_connect()
    > successfully, however, the subsequent pg_Exex() call failed with the
    > following browser error: "Warning: PostgreSQL query failed: ERROR:
    > table_name: Permission denied..."
    >
    > Thanks!
    >
    > Kevin
    >
    
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -
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    www.backpack.com
    +1 651.645.7550 voice       "Life is an Adventure.
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  20. RE: Setting Permissions for web viewing

    Chris <csmith@squiz.net> — 2000-10-19T22:45:49Z

    I wrote a very basic tutorial (which also has this part in it).
    http://designmagick.50megs.com/postgresql-tutorial/
    
    It's not very comprehensive, but it has a couple of things there.
    
    >The pg_connect command worked as localhost, but then the pg_exec failed with
    >permission errors?
    >
    >If you started from scratch, I think you would need to do the following
    >things:
    >
    >1) determine who the "user" is that the webserver is running as (Suggestions
    >on how to do this?)
    
    for linux, not sure if bsd is different..
    
    # ps aux | grep http
    
    gives a list of all the http processes running... check the first column 
    for the name of the process owner.
    
    >2) set up that user in postgres with createuser (but I'm unsure how to best
    >deal with the password, should it be NULL and then restrict the access or
    >should it have a value that you pass as a parameter down the road?  This
    >ties into point 4)
    
    I've just never set a password.
    
    >3) give that user permissions to access the database tables in the psql
    >interface with the "GRANT" command
    >
    >4) figure out the best way of having the webserver (as "user") connect to
    >the database, e.g. the options suggested below (although I assume the first
    >option implies that the user is set up with a NULL password?  How would this
    >work exactly?)
    
    Since the user connecting to the database has access (as done with the 
    grant command).... all I do is
    pg_connect("","","","","dbname");
    although there might be other / better ways :)
    
    Chris.
    
    
  21. SUM agregate

    David Horwitz <dhorwitz@its.uct.ac.za> — 2000-10-23T09:18:00Z

    Hi All,
    
    I'm having problems with the sum() agregate function. Simply put I 
    want to query a table and return grouped sum agregates. The SQL im 
    using is:
    
    SELECT PortfolioCurrValue.MID, Sum(PortfolioCurrValue.CurrValue) AS
    PortfolioValue  
    FROM PortfolioCurrValue  
    GROUP BY PortfolioCurrValue.MID; 
    
    
    currValue conatins large integers ( the largest is curently 
    195680000) the largest sum should be un the region of 199905000. The 
    query returns a number of responces per 'mid' (not just the sum of 
    the values per mid). Infact  it apears to return a row per value
    
    Converting the data-type to int8 seems to have no afect on the error.
    
    Anyadvise?
    
    Thanks
    
    David Horwitz
    
    
    
    
    ****************************************************
    David Horwitz                  University of Cape Town
    IT Officer                     Private Bag
    Multimedia Education Group     Rondebosch
                                   7701
    dhorwitz@its.uct.ac.za         SOUTH AFRICA
    Tel:+27 21 650 3841          Fax:+27 21 650 5045
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    *************************************************
    
    
    
    
  22. changing datestyle

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-30T16:12:53Z

    Hi all.
    
    This ISO datestyle is a nuisance.  In my /etc/profile I am exporting
    an env var:  export PGDATESTYLE='postgres'
    
    This converts the date back to what ppl here are used to...but it
    does not work for the web server and the nobody user.
    
    Do I have to manually SET the variable before every SELECT ???
    Geez, I hope not...
    
    Thanks,
    Tom
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
                   RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  23. Re: changing datestyle

    Jason Davis <jdavis@tassie.net.au> — 2000-10-30T23:03:04Z

    Hi 
    
    I had the same problem with my web database stuff. The trick is to put the
    line
    
    SetEnv PGDATESTYLE Postgres
    
    in your apache.conf (assuming you are running apache). Seems to be fussy
    where it goes - works if you put it directly above the User and Group
    directives.
    
    A postmaster restart will be necessary.
    
    regards,
    
    Jason Davis
    Database Administrator/Programmer
    Tas Access
    www.tassie.net.au
    
    
    At 11:12 AM 30/10/2000 -0500, you wrote:
    >Hi all.
    >
    >This ISO datestyle is a nuisance.  In my /etc/profile I am exporting
    >an env var:  export PGDATESTYLE='postgres'
    >
    >This converts the date back to what ppl here are used to...but it
    >does not work for the web server and the nobody user.
    >
    >Do I have to manually SET the variable before every SELECT ???
    >Geez, I hope not...
    >
    >Thanks,
    >Tom
    >
    >--------------------------------------------------------------------
    >               SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    >--------------------------------------------------------------------
    >Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    >IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
    >                                     Fax:   718-354-5056  
    >--------------------------------------------------------------------
    >Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
    >               RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    >--------------------------------------------------------------------
    > 
    
    
    
  24. Re: changing datestyle

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-31T16:28:03Z

    On Tue, 31 Oct 2000, Jason Davis wrote:
    
    > Hi 
    > 
    > I had the same problem with my web database stuff. The trick is to put the
    > line
    > 
    > SetEnv PGDATESTYLE Postgres
    > 
    > in your apache.conf (assuming you are running apache). Seems to be fussy
    > where it goes - works if you put it directly above the User and Group
    > directives.
    
    G'Day Jason and thanks!
    
    I did a rebuild, after editing ./src/backend/utils/init/globals.c
    to say:       int           DateStyle = USE_POSTGRES_DATES;
    
    It wasn't too tough to shutdown the server, do a make/make install
    and restart but your solution is definitely more elegant.
    I am going to hack my apache conf files on the other machines here
    running pg7.
    
    Cheers,
    Tom
     
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
                   RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  25. Re: changing datestyle

    Bryan White <bryan@arcamax.com> — 2000-10-31T16:41:02Z

    > I did a rebuild, after editing ./src/backend/utils/init/globals.c
    > to say:       int           DateStyle = USE_POSTGRES_DATES;
    >
    > It wasn't too tough to shutdown the server, do a make/make install
    > and restart but your solution is definitely more elegant.
    > I am going to hack my apache conf files on the other machines here
    > running pg7.
    
    I did the same thing (changed globals.c).  It seems more elegant because
    only one place had to change to affect the entire system across multiple
    servers, environments and programming languages.
    
    
    
  26. Re: changing datestyle

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-31T17:05:21Z

    On Tue, 31 Oct 2000, Bryan White wrote:
    
    > > I did a rebuild, after editing ./src/backend/utils/init/globals.c
    > > to say:       int           DateStyle = USE_POSTGRES_DATES;
    > >
    > > It wasn't too tough to shutdown the server, do a make/make install
    > > and restart but your solution is definitely more elegant.
    > > I am going to hack my apache conf files on the other machines here
    > > running pg7.
    > 
    > I did the same thing (changed globals.c).  It seems more elegant because
    > only one place had to change to affect the entire system across multiple
    > servers, environments and programming languages.
    
    Maybe...then again I have to hack my apache conf files to setup database 
    access and /etc/profile to setup Pg env vars for DBI/DBD anyway.  
    Adding PGDATESTYLE to my conf TODO list is painless.  In fact, I use
    small patches that I read in via vi...being not overly fond of typing.
    
    I suppose it is personal preference, eh?  After all:  TMTOWTDI.  ;-)
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
                   RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  27. Re[2]: changing datestyle

    Jean-Christophe Boggio <cat@thefreecat.org> — 2000-10-31T17:08:14Z

    Bryan,
    
    Ref : Tuesday, October 31, 2000 5:41:02 PM
    
    >> I did a rebuild, after editing ./src/backend/utils/init/globals.c
    >> to say:       int           DateStyle = USE_POSTGRES_DATES;
    >>
    >> It wasn't too tough to shutdown the server, do a make/make install
    >> and restart but your solution is definitely more elegant.
    >> I am going to hack my apache conf files on the other machines here
    >> running pg7.
    
    BW> I did the same thing (changed globals.c).  It seems more elegant because
    BW> only one place had to change to affect the entire system across multiple
    BW> servers, environments and programming languages.
    
    
    Do you think changing Postgres' code is more "elegant" than configuring
    your system(s) ?
    
    What will happen when you upgrade Postgres :
    * it won't work as expected
    * if you have saved "somewhere" the changes you made to the source
    code, you just re-apply the patches (if the location of defaults did not
    change in POstgres' code)
    * if not... :)
    * when a new person comes to work on Postgres, he'll have to find out
    what you changed, try to understand WHY you broke the code instead of
    just do a little config, etc.
    
    That's NOT what I call "elegant" and, as a project manager, I would be
    quite angry with the person who messed like this.
    
    --
    Jean-Christophe Boggio
    cat@thefreecat.org
    Independant Consultant and Developer
    Delphi, Linux, Oracle, Perl
    
    
    
    
  28. Re: Re[2]: changing datestyle

    Thomas Good <tomg@q8.nrnet.org> — 2000-10-31T17:46:46Z

    On Tue, 31 Oct 2000, Jean-Christophe Boggio wrote:
    
    > Bryan,
    
    [ snip ... ]
    
    > Do you think changing Postgres' code is more "elegant" than configuring
    > your system(s) ?
    
    JC,
    
    I agree that conf is better than a rebuild in most cases...but:
    In Bryan's defence, hacking globals.c *is* recommended in the man pages.
    (Nonetheless, I added an explanation - and my patch - to my log files.
    I think any DBA/SysAdmin who's been around awhile sees the value of
    a good log/commented code...)
    
    > That's NOT what I call "elegant" and, as a project manager, I would be
    > quite angry with the person who messed like this.
    
    You know one things does cause me to scratch my head: Pg does seem
    to require new env vars fairly often.
    
    I had about 4 or 5 set initially, then DBD wanted POSTGRES_INCLUDE
    and POSTGRES_LIB.  Now, with a default behaviour change, we need
    PGDATESTYLE.  One would think these guys at Pg are a band of merry
    pranksters, eh?    ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    Tom
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                   SVCMC - Center for Behavioral Health                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Thomas Good                          tomg@ { admin | q8 } .nrnet.org
    IS Coordinator / DBA                 Phone: 718-354-5528 
                                         Fax:   718-354-5056  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Powered by:  PostgreSQL     s l a c k w a r e          FreeBSD:
                   RDBMS       |---------- linux      The Power To Serve
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
  29. Re[4]: changing datestyle

    Jean-Christophe Boggio <cat@thefreecat.org> — 2000-10-31T18:27:05Z

    Thomas,
    
    Ref : Tuesday, October 31, 2000 6:46:46 PM
    
    TG> I agree that conf is better than a rebuild in most cases...but:
    TG> In Bryan's defence, hacking globals.c *is* recommended in the man pages.
    
    Woops! my apologies to Bryan, haven't read that (or maybe slipped on
    it ;-) )
    
    However, I think if the problem arises for me, I will prefer config
    over "broken" code : the time it takes to find a cause of trouble is
    manageable only with config. My PoV :)
    
    TG> (Nonetheless, I added an explanation - and my patch - to my log files.
    TG> I think any DBA/SysAdmin who's been around awhile sees the value of
    TG> a good log/commented code...)
    
    The DBA part of me says yes and the developer part is not so sure ;-)
    
    TG> You know one things does cause me to scratch my head: Pg does seem
    TG> to require new env vars fairly often.
    
    TG> I had about 4 or 5 set initially, then DBD wanted POSTGRES_INCLUDE
    TG> and POSTGRES_LIB.  Now, with a default behaviour change, we need
    TG> PGDATESTYLE.  One would think these guys at Pg are a band of merry
    TG> pranksters, eh?    ;-)
    
    Apparently, this is just the result of your success !
    
    Have you tried installing Oracle 8.0 and then 8.1 ? Do you know how
    many env variables have been added between the 2 versions ? You think
    you can tolerate the comparison ?
    
    Regards,
    
    --
    Jean-Christophe Boggio
    cat@thefreecat.org
    Independant Consultant and Developer
    Delphi, Linux, Oracle, Perl