PostgreSQL (2nd Edition)

   

When you create a table, PostgreSQL stores the definition of that table in the system catalog. The system catalog is a collection of PostgreSQL tables. You can issue SELECT statements against the system catalog tables just like any other table, but there are easier ways to view table and index definitions.

When you are using the psql client application, you can view the list of tables defined in your database using the \d meta-command:

movies=# \d List of relations Name Type Owner ------------------+-------+--------------- customers table bruce distributors table bruce rentals table bruce returns table John Whorfin tapes table bruce

To see the detailed definition of a particular table, use the \d table-name meta-command:

movies=# \d tapes Table "tapes" Column Type Modifiers ---------+-----------------------+----------- tape_id character(8) not null title character varying(80) dist_id integer Primary key: tapes_pkey Triggers: RI_ConstraintTrigger_74939, RI_ConstraintTrigger_74941, RI_ConstraintTrigger_74953

You can also view a list of all indexes defined in your database. The \di meta-command displays indexes:

movies=# \di List of relations Name Type Owner ---------------------------+-------+--------------- customers_pkey index Administrator distributors_pkey index Administrator tapes_pkey index Administrator

You can see the full definition for any given index using the \d index-name meta-command:

movies=# \d tapes Index "tapes_pkey" Column Type ---------+-------------- tape_id character(8) unique btree (primary key)

Table 3.1 shows a complete list of the system catalog- related meta-commands in psql :

Table 3.1. System Catalog Meta-Commands

Command

Result

\d

\dt

List all tables

\di

List all indexes

\ds

List all sequences

\dv

List all views

\dS

List all PostgreSQL-defined tables

\d table-name

Show table definition

\d index-name

Show index definition

\d view-name

Show view definition

\d sequence-name

Show sequence definition

\dp

List all privileges

\dl

List all large objects

\da

List all aggregates

\df

List all functions

\df function-name

List all functions with given name

\do

List all operators

\do operator-name

List all operators with given name

\dT

List all types

\l

List all databases in this cluster

Alternative Views (Oracle-Style Dictionary Views)

One of the nice things about an open -source product is that code contributions come from many different places. One such project exists to add Oracle-style dictionary views to PostgreSQL. If you are an experienced Oracle user , you will appreciate this feature. The orapgsqlviews project contributes Oracle-style views such as all_views , all_tables , user_tables , and so on. For more information, see http://gborg.postgresql.org.

   
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