Re: [SQL] Re: MySQLs Describe emulator!

try starting psql with the -E option -- this displays all queries used
internally to the screen, i.e.:

bash-2.04$ psql -E
********* QUERY *********
SELECT usesuper FROM pg_user WHERE usename = 'mfork'
*************************

Welcome to psql, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.

Type: \copyright for distribution terms
\h for help with SQL commands
\? for help on internal slash commands
\g or terminate with semicolon to execute query
\q to quit

mfork=# \d test
********* QUERY *********
SELECT relhasindex, relkind, relchecks, reltriggers, relhasrules
FROM pg_class WHERE relname='test'
*************************

********* QUERY *********
SELECT a.attname, t.typname, a.attlen, a.atttypmod, a.attnotnull,
a.atthasdef, a.attnum
FROM pg_class c, pg_attribute a, pg_type t
WHERE c.relname = 'test'
AND a.attnum > 0 AND a.attrelid = c.oid AND a.atttypid = t.oid
ORDER BY a.attnum
*************************

Table "test"
Attribute | Type | Modifier
-----------+------+----------
t | text |
d | date |

So to get the info displayed with \d, execute the query:

SELECT a.attname, t.typname, a.attlen, a.atttypmod, a.attnotnull,
a.atthasdef, a.attnum
FROM pg_class c, pg_attribute a, pg_type t
WHERE c.relname = '<<TABLE NAME>>'
AND a.attnum > 0 AND a.attrelid = c.oid AND a.atttypid = t.oid
ORDER BY a.attnum

Michael Fork - CCNA - MCP - A+
Network Support - Toledo Internet Access - Toledo Ohio

On Tue, 6 Mar 2001, Boulat Khakimov wrote:

> Hi,
>
> 1) "\d table" can only be used in psql, you cant run a query like that
> using libpq for example
>
> 2) as a programmer I need to be able to find out as much info as
> possible about any given field
> which is what "describe" for in mySQL.
>
> Regards,
> Boulat Khakimov
>
>
> --
> Nothing Like the Sun
>
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