The following conventions are used in the synopsis of a command:
brackets ([ and ]) indicate optional parts. (In the synopsis of a
Tcl command, question marks (?) are
used instead, as is usual in Tcl.) Braces ({ and }) and vertical
lines (|) indicate that you must
choose one alternative. Dots (...)
mean that the preceding element can be repeated.
Where it enhances the clarity, SQL commands are preceded by the
prompt =>, and shell commands are
preceded by the prompt $. Normally,
prompts are not shown, though.
An administrator is generally a person who is in charge of installing and running the server. A user could be anyone who is using, or wants to use, any part of the PostgreSQL system. These terms should not be interpreted too narrowly; this book does not have fixed presumptions about system administration procedures.
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