I wanted to change the encoding of the template1 database, but when I
tried to drop template1, I get the message, "ERROR: cannot drop a
template database".
The docs
(http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.1/interactive/manage-ag-templatedbs.html)
say that this is possible, but a user comment on that page says you can't.
Actually, you *can* drop a template database, if you first convert it
into a non-template database, as per
http://techdocs.postgresql.org/techdocs/pgsqladventuresep1.php
Here's a condensed example, in which template1 is recreated to change
its default encoding:
-- Connect as the postgres superuser,
e.g.:
-- psql -U postgres
template1
-- Then
run:
UPDATE pg_database SET datallowconn = TRUE where datname = 'template0';
\c template0
UPDATE pg_database SET datistemplate = FALSE where datname = 'template1';
drop database template1;
create database template1 with template = template0 encoding = 'UNICODE';
UPDATE pg_database SET datistemplate = TRUE where datname = 'template1';
\c template1
UPDATE pg_database SET datallowconn = FALSE where datname = 'template0';
If you just wanted to clone template0, you would leave out the "encoding
= 'UNICODE'" clause.
Gurus, any corrections or safety advisories you care to make?
Kevin Murphy
