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Thread: psql documentation one liner

psql documentation one liner

From
Gavin Sherry
Date:
This just clears up one aspect of variable handling in psql.

Gavin
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Re: psql documentation one liner

From
Peter Eisentraut
Date:
Gavin Sherry wrote:
> This just clears up one aspect of variable handling in psql.
> [ "variable names are case-sensitive" ]

I honestly wonder why this is suddenly of so much interest.  I hope no
one is going to question the fact that the command names are
case-sensitive.  Do we need a note abou that, too?

Re: psql documentation one liner

From
Tom Lane
Date:
Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net> writes:
> Gavin Sherry wrote:
>> This just clears up one aspect of variable handling in psql.
>> [ "variable names are case-sensitive" ]

> I honestly wonder why this is suddenly of so much interest.

I think it's reasonable to document the behavior, especially seeing that
psql is at the intersection of traditionally-case-sensitive Unix and
traditionally-not-case-sensitive SQL.  It is not instantly obvious which
behavior should be expected.

I take no position on whether this is the best way to document it...

            regards, tom lane

Re: psql documentation one liner

From
Gavin Sherry
Date:
On Tue, 10 Feb 2004, Peter Eisentraut wrote:

> Gavin Sherry wrote:
> > This just clears up one aspect of variable handling in psql.
> > [ "variable names are case-sensitive" ]
>
> I honestly wonder why this is suddenly of so much interest.  I hope no
> one is going to question the fact that the command names are
> case-sensitive.  Do we need a note abou that, too?

This arose because Neil and I were having a private conversation where
psql variables were involved. A script was not behaving correctly because
I assumed the variables were case insensitive. I'm not sure why -- perhaps
because SQL is case insensitive. I thought I'd send in the note so that no
one else could make the mistake.

Gavin

Re: psql documentation one liner

From
Bruce Momjian
Date:
Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> Gavin Sherry wrote:
> > This just clears up one aspect of variable handling in psql.
> > [ "variable names are case-sensitive" ]
>
> I honestly wonder why this is suddenly of so much interest.  I hope no
> one is going to question the fact that the command names are
> case-sensitive.  Do we need a note abou that, too?

Patch applied.  I just added a sentence, rather than an new paragraph.
I think the confusion is because SQL variable names aren't case
senstitive, so it is a little confusing.

--
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive,     |  13 Roberts Road
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Index: doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/pgsql-server/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml,v
retrieving revision 1.105
diff -c -c -r1.105 psql-ref.sgml
*** doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml    12 Feb 2004 19:58:16 -0000    1.105
--- doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml    13 Feb 2004 05:08:46 -0000
***************
*** 1613,1618 ****
--- 1613,1619 ----
      underscores. See the section <xref
      linkend="APP-PSQL-variables"
      endterm="APP-PSQL-variables-title"> below for details.
+     Variable names are case-sensitive.
      </para>

      <para>