> also, the semicolumn, needed for some statementds (sql) but not all.
Yes, it is pretty strange.
The backslash command are outside of SQL and finished on the line. You can
use them anywhere:
psql> SELECT
\set x 2
1
\set y 3
;
# 1
psql> \echo :x :y
# 2 3
Basically SQL & backslash commands are unrelated. The SQL is sent to the
server, the backslash is executed on the client...
--
Fabien.