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<!-- doc/src/sgml/postgres.sgml -->
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<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook V4.2//EN" [
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<!ENTITY % version SYSTEM "version.sgml">
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<!ENTITY % filelist SYSTEM "filelist.sgml">
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<!ENTITY reference SYSTEM "reference.sgml">
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<title>PostgreSQL &version; Documentation</title>
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<corpauthor>The PostgreSQL Global Development Group</corpauthor>
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<productname>PostgreSQL</productname>
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<productnumber>&version;</productnumber>
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<title>Tutorial</title>
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Welcome to the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> Tutorial. The
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following few chapters are intended to give a simple introduction
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to <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>, relational database
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concepts, and the SQL language to those who are new to any one of
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these aspects. We only assume some general knowledge about how to
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use computers. No particular Unix or programming experience is
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required. This part is mainly intended to give you some hands-on
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experience with important aspects of the
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<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> system. It makes no attempt
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to be a complete or thorough treatment of the topics it covers.
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After you have worked through this tutorial you might want to move
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on to reading <xref linkend="sql"> to gain a more formal knowledge
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of the SQL language, or <xref linkend="client-interfaces"> for
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information about developing applications for
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<productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. Those who set up and
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manage their own server should also read <xref linkend="admin">.
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<title>The SQL Language</title>
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This part describes the use of the <acronym>SQL</acronym> language
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in <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. We start with
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describing the general syntax of <acronym>SQL</acronym>, then
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explain how to create the structures to hold data, how to populate
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the database, and how to query it. The middle part lists the
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available data types and functions for use in
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<acronym>SQL</acronym> commands. The rest treats several
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aspects that are important for tuning a database for optimal
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The information in this part is arranged so that a novice user can
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follow it start to end to gain a full understanding of the topics
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without having to refer forward too many times. The chapters are
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intended to be self-contained, so that advanced users can read the
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chapters individually as they choose. The information in this
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part is presented in a narrative fashion in topical units.
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Readers looking for a complete description of a particular command
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should see <xref linkend="reference">.
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Readers of this part should know how to connect to a
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<productname>PostgreSQL</> database and issue
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<acronym>SQL</acronym> commands. Readers that are unfamiliar with
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these issues are encouraged to read <xref linkend="tutorial">
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first. <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands are typically entered
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using the <productname>PostgreSQL</> interactive terminal
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<application>psql</application>, but other programs that have
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similar functionality can be used as well.
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<title>Server Administration</title>
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This part covers topics that are of interest to a
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<productname>PostgreSQL</> database administrator. This includes
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installation of the software, set up and configuration of the
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server, management of users and databases, and maintenance tasks.
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Anyone who runs a <productname>PostgreSQL</> server, even for
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personal use, but especially in production, should be familiar
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with the topics covered in this part.
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The information in this part is arranged approximately in the
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order in which a new user should read it. But the chapters are
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self-contained and can be read individually as desired. The
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information in this part is presented in a narrative fashion in
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topical units. Readers looking for a complete description of a
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particular command should see <xref linkend="reference">.
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The first few chapters are written so they can be understood
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without prerequisite knowledge, so new users who need to set
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up their own server can begin their exploration with this part.
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The rest of this part is about tuning and management; that material
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assumes that the reader is familiar with the general use of
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the <productname>PostgreSQL</> database system. Readers are
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encouraged to look at <xref linkend="tutorial"> and <xref
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linkend="sql"> for additional information.
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<part id="client-interfaces">
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<title>Client Interfaces</title>
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This part describes the client programming interfaces distributed
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with <productname>PostgreSQL</>. Each of these chapters can be
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read independently. Note that there are many other programming
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interfaces for client programs that are distributed separately and
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contain their own documentation (<xref linkend="external-projects">
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lists some of the more popular ones). Readers of this part should be
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familiar with using <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands to manipulate
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and query the database (see <xref linkend="sql">) and of course
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with the programming language that the interface uses.
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<part id="server-programming">
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<title>Server Programming</title>
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This part is about extending the server functionality with
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user-defined functions, data types, triggers, etc. These are
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advanced topics which should probably be approached only after all
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the other user documentation about <productname>PostgreSQL</> has
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been understood. Later chapters in this part describe the server-side
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programming languages available in the
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<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> distribution as well as
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general issues concerning server-side programming languages. It
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is essential to read at least the earlier sections of <xref
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linkend="extend"> (covering functions) before diving into the
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material about server-side programming languages.
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<part id="internals">
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<title>Internals</title>
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This part contains assorted information that might be of use to
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<productname>PostgreSQL</> developers.
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<part id="appendixes">
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<title>Appendixes</title>
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