Thread: FAQ update for 7.1
Several FAQ items should be updated for the 7.1 release. I include some suggested new wordings and rationale here. 1.3) What Unix platforms does PostgreSQL run on? Suggestion: "In general, a modern Unix-compatible platform should be able to run PostgreSQL. The platforms that had received explicit testing at the time of release are listed in the installation instructions." Rationale: Maintaining a separate list in the FAQ is prone to get out of date quickly (as it is already). 1.6) Where can I get support? Should probably contain a link to <http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/commercial-support.html>. 3.1) Why does initdb fail? The reasons listed will not happen in 7.1, so it should probably be removed. 3.2) How do I install PostgreSQL somewhere other than /usr/local/pgsql? Suggestions: "Use the --prefix option when running 'configure'. See the installation instructions for details." Rationale: Anything else won't work. 3.8) Why can't I access the database as the root user? Sure you can. 4.4) How do I get a list of tables or other things I can see in psql? s,pgsql/src/bin/psql/psql.c,src/bin/psql/describe.c, 4.6) What is the maximum size for a row, table, database? Update for TOAST. 4.24) How do I do an outer join? Outer joins are supported in 7.1. 5.5) I have changed a source file. Why does the recompile not see the change? Currently: "The Makefiles do not have the proper dependencies for include files. You have to do a make clean and then another make." Add: "If you are using GCC you can use the --enable-depend option for 'configure' to make the compiler compute the dependencies automatically." -- Peter Eisentraut peter_e@gmx.net http://yi.org/peter-e/
Thanks. I will update it as soon as 7.1 goes beta. > Several FAQ items should be updated for the 7.1 release. I include some > suggested new wordings and rationale here. > > 1.3) What Unix platforms does PostgreSQL run on? > > Suggestion: "In general, a modern Unix-compatible platform should be able > to run PostgreSQL. The platforms that had received explicit testing at the > time of release are listed in the installation instructions." > > Rationale: Maintaining a separate list in the FAQ is prone to get out of > date quickly (as it is already). > > 1.6) Where can I get support? > > Should probably contain a link to > <http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/commercial-support.html>. > > 3.1) Why does initdb fail? > > The reasons listed will not happen in 7.1, so it should probably be > removed. > > 3.2) How do I install PostgreSQL somewhere other than /usr/local/pgsql? > > Suggestions: "Use the --prefix option when running 'configure'. See the > installation instructions for details." > > Rationale: Anything else won't work. > > 3.8) Why can't I access the database as the root user? > > Sure you can. > > 4.4) How do I get a list of tables or other things I can see in psql? > > s,pgsql/src/bin/psql/psql.c,src/bin/psql/describe.c, > > 4.6) What is the maximum size for a row, table, database? > > Update for TOAST. > > 4.24) How do I do an outer join? > > Outer joins are supported in 7.1. > > 5.5) I have changed a source file. Why does the recompile not see the change? > > Currently: "The Makefiles do not have the proper dependencies for include > files. You have to do a make clean and then another make." > > Add: "If you are using GCC you can use the --enable-depend option for > 'configure' to make the compiler compute the dependencies automatically." > > > -- > Peter Eisentraut peter_e@gmx.net http://yi.org/peter-e/ > > -- Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us pgman@candle.pha.pa.us | (610) 853-3000 + If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue + Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026
On Sat, Nov 04, 2000 at 03:13:26PM -0500, Bruce Momjian wrote: > Thanks. I will update it as soon as 7.1 goes beta. > > > > 4.24) How do I do an outer join? > > > > Outer joins are supported in 7.1. > > Perhaps throw in an example of the supported syntax? From what I've seen discussed here, people coming from other systems will find their outer join queries failing, and may end up at this question. Ross -- Open source code is like a natural resource, it's the result of providing food and sunshine to programmers, and then staying out of their way. [...] [It] is not going away because it has utility for both the developers and users independent of economic motivations. Jim Flynn, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Thanks Peter. All changes made, and web site/CVS updated. > Several FAQ items should be updated for the 7.1 release. I include some > suggested new wordings and rationale here. > > 1.3) What Unix platforms does PostgreSQL run on? > > Suggestion: "In general, a modern Unix-compatible platform should be able > to run PostgreSQL. The platforms that had received explicit testing at the > time of release are listed in the installation instructions." > > Rationale: Maintaining a separate list in the FAQ is prone to get out of > date quickly (as it is already). > > 1.6) Where can I get support? > > Should probably contain a link to > <http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/commercial-support.html>. > > 3.1) Why does initdb fail? > > The reasons listed will not happen in 7.1, so it should probably be > removed. > > 3.2) How do I install PostgreSQL somewhere other than /usr/local/pgsql? > > Suggestions: "Use the --prefix option when running 'configure'. See the > installation instructions for details." > > Rationale: Anything else won't work. > > 3.8) Why can't I access the database as the root user? > > Sure you can. > > 4.4) How do I get a list of tables or other things I can see in psql? > > s,pgsql/src/bin/psql/psql.c,src/bin/psql/describe.c, > > 4.6) What is the maximum size for a row, table, database? > > Update for TOAST. > > 4.24) How do I do an outer join? > > Outer joins are supported in 7.1. > > 5.5) I have changed a source file. Why does the recompile not see the change? > > Currently: "The Makefiles do not have the proper dependencies for include > files. You have to do a make clean and then another make." > > Add: "If you are using GCC you can use the --enable-depend option for > 'configure' to make the compiler compute the dependencies automatically." > > > -- > Peter Eisentraut peter_e@gmx.net http://yi.org/peter-e/ > > -- Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us pgman@candle.pha.pa.us | (610) 853-3000 + If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue + Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026
> On Sat, Nov 04, 2000 at 03:13:26PM -0500, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> > Thanks. I will update it as soon as 7.1 goes beta.
> > >
> > > 4.24) How do I do an outer join?
> > >
> > > Outer joins are supported in 7.1.
> > >
>
> Perhaps throw in an example of the supported syntax? From what I've seen
> discussed here, people coming from other systems will find their outer
> join queries failing, and may end up at this question.
Good idea. Here is an updated FAQ item on outer joins. It will appear
on the web site as soon as I can connect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.24) How do I do an outer join?
PostgreSQL 7.1 and later supports outer joins. Here are two examples:
SELECT *
FROM t1 LEFT OUTER JOIN t2 ON (t1.col = t2.col);
or
SELECT *
FROM t1 LEFT OUTER JOIN t2 USING (col);
These identical queries join t1.col to t2.col, and return any unjoined
rows in t1. A RIGHT join would return unjoined
rows of table t2. A FULL join would return unjoined rows from t1 and t2.
The word OUTER is optional and is
assumed in LEFT, RIGHT, and FULL joins. Ordinary joins are called INNER
joins.
In previous releases, outer joins can be simulated using UNION and NOT
IN. For example, when joining tab1 and
tab2, the following query does an outer join of the two tables:
SELECT tab1.col1, tab2.col2
FROM tab1, tab2
WHERE tab1.col1 = tab2.col1
UNION ALL
SELECT tab1.col1, NULL
FROM tab1
WHERE tab1.col1 NOT IN (SELECT tab2.col1 FROM tab2)
ORDER BY tab1.col1
--
Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us
pgman@candle.pha.pa.us | (610) 853-3000
+ If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue
+ Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026