Re: defining yuor own commands in PG ?

On Dec 19, 2009, at 2:59 AM, Filip Rembiałkowski wrote:

>
> 2009/12/18 Gauthier, Dave <dave(dot)gauthier(at)intel(dot)com>
> Can you define your own commands in PG.
>
> In psql, yes:
>
> \set sel 'SELECT * FROM'
> :sel clients;
>
> \set desc '\\d'
> :desc table
>
>
> E.g., if users from other DBs use “describe foo” to get the
> metadata for foo, is there a way I can create a command
> “describe” to = “\d” ?
>
>
> But what's wrong with "\d"? For me, its like the first thing people
> learn when practicing postgres.
> It is even faster to type than DESCRIBE, right?

Just to put in my 2¢, I write a program that can use a MySQL,
PostgreSQL, or SQLite database as its backend, depending on user
preference. As a result, I spend time in all three databases each day.
It can get a bit confusing at times trying to remember "ok, in this
terminal window I need to do a 'describe foo', in that one I need to
do a '\d foo' and in the third '.schema foo'". So being able to
simplify that at least somewhat is nice :) That said, I'd be just as
happy getting MySQL to recognize the \d command as I would be getting
postgres to recognize describe-perhaps more so.

>
> IMO, when you will bend postgres to mimick other DBMS, you will hide
> its real power from users.
>
>
>
> --
> Filip Rembiałkowski
> JID,mailto:filip(dot)rembialkowski(at)gmail(dot)com
> http://filip.rembialkowski.net/

-----------------------------------------------
Israel Brewster
Computer Support Technician II
Frontier Flying Service Inc.
5245 Airport Industrial Rd
Fairbanks, AK 99709
(907) 450-7250 x293
-----------------------------------------------