Re: Tutorial ??

Only as a little comment about this message. I'm not pointing anybody...

I am a total newbie with databases but I have been able to install from
scratch PostgreSQL version 7.0.2 and migrate the database we had on 6.3
successfully. Everything I needed to know was written in the little readme
file at src/INSTALL. and since the installation procedures are probably
different from platform to platforms, I guess they could not really be more
specific in their manual. Being more specific would need to have
installation procedures for all platforms ...

So, to the people in charged of the documentations on PostgreSQ:L, I'm
telling you that somebody with no experience on databases at all was able to
install PostgreSQL 7.0.2 and migrate the database from 6.3 within an hour
using those documents.

Thanks guys !

----- Original Message -----
From: "paul simdars" <psimdars(at)lisco(dot)com>
To: <pgsql-docs(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 9:53 PM
Subject: [DOCS] Tutorial ??

> My feeling is that a user's guide should tell a person how to actually
> use the database system.
> First, I believe you are unable to start the postmaster from the
> information in the tutorial. I believe that is in the RPM readme.
> Second, (and I don't know how to do this) is how to actually get into
> it. I have read that somewhere but can't remember where. I think there
> should be some simple instructions somewhere between 'setting up your
> environment' and 'managing a database'. A tutorial should say " type
> XXX at the prompt" to start postgres for user XXX. I have often found
> that the basic and simple commands for linux programs are the hard ones
> to find. I mean, if you look thru the index of the user's guide, where
> would you look to see how to actually get the thing started? First
> there is the whole SQL language and all its items, and then the perl and
> tcl. Then we get to 'setting up the environment' and you think you are
> getting close. The next items are all about creating databases, etc.
> This seems like the place I would look. When you are actually ready to
> set up a database, you tell the syntax about how to do that, but there
> is no instruction about how to start up or log in.
> Just a suggestion.