Synopses & Reviews
Arguably the most capable of all the open source databases, PostgreSQL is an object-relational database management system first developed in 1977 by the University of California at Berkeley. In spite of its long history, this robust database suffers from a lack of easy-to-use documentation. Practical PostgreSQL fills that void with a fast-paced guide to installation, configuration, and usage.This comprehensive new volume shows you how to compile PostgreSQL from source, create a database, and configure PostgreSQL to accept client-server connections. It also covers the many advanced features, such as transactions, versioning, replication, and referential integrity that enable developers and DBAs to use PostgreSQL for serious business applications. The thorough introduction to PostgreSQL's PL/pgSQL programming language explains how you can use this very useful but under-documented feature to develop stored procedures and triggers. The book includes a complete command reference, and database administrators will appreciate the chapters on user management, database maintenance, and backup & recovery. With Practical PostgreSQL, you will discover quickly why this open source database is such a great open source alternative to proprietary products from Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft.Also included is a CD-ROM with Command Prompt's PostgreSQL ApplicationServer, LXP. The CD covers LXP version 0.8.0 and PostgreSQL version 7.1.3.
Synopsis
Complete with a CD-ROM of the PostgreSQL Application Server, LXP, this comprehensive new volume shows USERS how to compile PostgreSQL from source, create a database, and configure PostgreSQL to accept client-server connections. It also covers the many advanced features, such as transactions, versioning, replication, and referential integrity that enable developers and DBAs to use PostgreSQL for serious business applications.
Table of Contents
Preface; Who Is the Intended Audience?; Structure of This Book; Platform and Version Used; What Is Included on the CD?; Conventions Used in This Book; Acknowledgments; Comments and Questions; Introduction and Installation; Chapter 1: What Is PostgreSQL?; 1.1 Open Source Free Version; 1.2 PostgreSQL Feature Set; 1.3 Where to Proceed from Here; Chapter 2: Installing PostgreSQL; 2.1 Preparing for Installation; 2.2 10 Steps to Installing PostgreSQL; Using PostgreSQL; Chapter 3: Understanding SQL; 3.1 Introduction to SQL; 3.2 Introduction to Relational Databases; 3.3 SQL Statements; 3.4 Data Types; 3.5 Tables in PostgreSQL; Chapter 4: Using SQL with PostgreSQL; 4.1 Introduction to psql; 4.2 Using Tables; 4.3 Adding Data with INSERT and COPY; 4.4 Retrieving Rows with SELECT; 4.5 Modifying Rows with UPDATE; 4.6 Removing Rows with DELETE; 4.7 Using Sub-Queries; 4.8 Using Views; 4.9 Further SQL Application; Chapter 5: Operators and Functions; 5.1 Operators; 5.2 Functions; Chapter 6: PostgreSQL Clients; 6.1 The psql Client: Advanced Topics; 6.2 PgAccess: A Graphical Client; Chapter 7: Advanced Features; 7.1 Indices; 7.2 Advanced Table Techniques; 7.3 Arrays; 7.4 Automating Common Routines; 7.5 Transactions and Cursors; 7.6 Extending PostgreSQL; Administrating PostgreSQL; Chapter 8: Authentication and Encryption; 8.1 Client Authentication; 8.2 Encrypting Sessions; Chapter 9: Database Management; 9.1 Starting and Stopping PostgreSQL; 9.2 Initializing the Filesystem; 9.3 Creating and Removing a Database; 9.4 Maintaining a Database; 9.5 Backing Up and Restoring Data; Chapter 10: User and Group Management; 10.1 Managing Users; 10.2 Managing Groups; 10.3 Granting Privileges; PostgreSQL Programming; Chapter 11: PL/pgSQL; 11.1 Adding PL/pgSQL to Your Database; 11.2 Language Structure; 11.3 Using Variables; 11.4 Controlling Program Flow; 11.5 PL/pgSQL and Triggers; Chapter 12: JDBC; 12.1 Building the PostgreSQL JDBC Driver; 12.2 Using the PostgreSQL Driver; 12.3 Using JDBC; 12.4 Issues Specific to PostgreSQL and JDBC; Chapter 13: LXP; 13.1 Why Use LXP?; 13.2 Core Features; 13.3 Installing and Configuring LXP; 13.4 Understanding LXP Mark-Up; 13.5 LXP Variables and Objects; 13.6 Using Cookies with LXP; 13.7 Tag Parsing; 13.8 Branching Logic; 13.9 Loop Iteration; 13.10 Content Inclusion; 13.11 Displaying Foreign Tags with
; Command Reference; Chapter 14: PostgreSQL Command Reference; 14.1 Abort; 14.2 Alter Group; 14.3 Alter Table; 14.4 Alter User; 14.5 Begin; 14.6 Close; 14.7 Cluster; 14.8 Comment; 14.9 Commit; 14.10 Copy; 14.11 Create Aggregate; 14.12 Create Database; 14.13 Create Function; 14.14 Create Group; 14.15 Create Index; 14.16 Create Language; 14.17 Create Operator; 14.18 Create Rule; 14.19 Create Sequence; 14.20 Create Table; 14.21 Create Table As; 14.22 Create Trigger; 14.23 Create Type; 14.24 Create User; 14.25 Create View; 14.26 Current_Date; 14.27 Current_Time; 14.28 Current_Timestamp; 14.29 Current_User; 14.30 Declare; 14.31 Delete; 14.32 Drop Aggregate; 14.33 Drop Database; 14.34 Drop Function; 14.35 Drop Group; 14.36 Drop Index; 14.37 Drop Language; 14.38 Drop Operator; 14.39 Drop Rule; 14.40 Drop Sequence; 14.41 Drop Table; 14.42 Drop Trigger; 14.43 Drop Type; 14.44 Drop User; 14.45 DROP VIEW; 14.46 End; 14.47 Explain; 14.48 FETCH; 14.49 Grant; 14.50 Insert; 14.51 Listen; 14.52 Load; 14.53 Lock; 14.54 Move; 14.55 Notify; 14.56 Reindex; 14.57 Reset; 14.58 Revoke; 14.59 Rollback; 14.60 Select; 14.61 Select Into; 14.62 Set; 14.63 Set Constraints; 14.64 Set Transaction; 14.65 Show; 14.66 Truncate; 14.67 Unlisten; 14.68 Update; 14.69 Vacuum; Multibyte Encoding Types; Backend Options for postgres; Binary COPY Format; The Header; Tuples; Trailer; Internal psql Variables; About the Authors; Colophon;