Re: pg_dump docs should mention TMPDIR

Tom Lane wrote:
> Mark Stosberg <mark(at)summersault(dot)com> writes:
> > A suggested addition to the pg_dump docs:
> > This would be an extension to the documentation for the "tar" format:
>
> > The tar format needs some space to create temporary files. By default
> > "/tmp" is used. On systems with small "/tmp" partitions, set the
> > "TMPDIR" environment variable to a location with more space, such as
> > "/usr/tmp".
>
> There is no reference to TMPDIR in the pg_dump code. It may be that
> tmpfile() pays attention to such an environment variable on your
> machine, but there's nothing about it in the Single Unix Spec.
>
> > Also, I would like it if the pg_dump docs more assertively recommended
> > one of the "tar" or "custom" formats. They seem very similiar.
>
> Yeah. I think it should specifically recommend custom format. The only
> reason for using tar format would be if you want to process the file
> later with something other than pg_restore.

I have applied the attached patch to recommend more clearly custom
pg_dump format over tar, by showing custom format examples first.

--
Bruce Momjian http://candle.pha.pa.us
EnterpriseDB http://www.enterprisedb.com

+ If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +