Creating data bases

I am converting 4 sites from C-ISAM (btree) to PostgreSQL which
necessitates pretty well a full re-development.

I am using Mandrake 9.2 + cooker so my current release level is 7.4-2.

/var/lib/pgsql/data is present and would appear to have the
directories/files that my 2 texts on the subject mention should be
present.

I began by wanting to create a simple data base. psql -l reports it but
the Linux <find> cannot locate it. I can remove it with dropdb, too, so
the table must be somewhere? Or is this because there is as yet nothing
in the table?

What I planned on doing was establishing 4 separate file systems, one
for each of the 'divisions' or web sites. I have tried using createdb
with the -D but it fails because absolute paths are not permitted??

Finally, who should own what? Presently all the development directories
are owned by a single development user. May that user own the postgres
files or does the postgres user itself have to own them? If the latter
is the case, then permissions would seem to be a problem.

I'd feel a whole lot better if I could 'see' these tables (files) before
I begin to develop strategy for defining and transferring the existing
data. Rather anal retentive, but there it is - I like to see what I am
working with.

A hell of a way to spend New Years, I suppose, but in time I will enjoy
this project, I am sure.

--
George J. Walsh,
Suite 507, 890 Academy Close,
Victoria, B.C. V8V 2Y1

(250) 386-4498

george(at)dscdirectionalservices(dot)com