Re: Flat File unload/export/copy

Regina,
Thanks again - you're right, that syntax is there in 8.2+ but I'm on an
older 8.1 release.

Apologies to all for not having stated the version I was using earlier.

On Fri, 2008-09-12 at 13:16 -0400, Obe, Regina wrote:
> Steve,
> Seems to work okay for me.
> Which version of PostgreSQL are you using?
>
> Looks like the query option was introduced in 8.2
>
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/static/sql-copy.html
>
>
> I did a sample
>
> copy (SELECT * FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_schema LIKE
> 'pg%') to '/temp/pgcat.csv';
>
> which should work in any db if you have admin rights and worked fine
> for me on an 8.2 install.
>
> I suppose if you are using a version prior to 8.2, you could use the
> documented workaround
>
> BEGIN;
> CREATE TEMP TABLE a_list_countries AS
> SELECT * FROM country WHERE country_name LIKE 'A%';
> COPY a_list_countries TO '/usr1/proj/bray/sql/a_list_countries.copy';
> ROLLBACK;
> Hope that helps,
> Regina
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> From: Steve T [mailto:steve(at)retsol(dot)co(dot)uk]
> Sent: Fri 9/12/2008 12:10 PM
> To: Obe, Regina
> Cc: PostGreSQL
> Subject: Re: [NOVICE] Flat File unload/export/copy
>
>
> Regina,
> I wasn't aware that you could!
> I just tried and that syntax gave me an error:
> rel_reinsure=# copy (select * from client where name like '%BERT%') to
> '/tmp/stevet.clients';
> ERROR: syntax error at or near "(" at character 6
> LINE 1: copy (select * from client where name like '%BERT%') to
> '/tm...
>
> - I can do though:
> rel_reinsure=# copy client (recno,code,name) to '/tmp/stevet.clients';
>
> ... or select all columns, but that is 'too global' and I just want
> 'WHERE name LIKE '%BERT%' type syntax.
>
>
> On Fri, 2008-09-12 at 11:31 -0400, Obe, Regina wrote:
>
> > And why can't you use copy?
> >
> > Something like below -
> >
> > COPY (SELECT * FROM sometable WHERE somevalue LIKE '%') TO
> > '/path/to/textfile.csv'
> >
> > WITH NULL As 'NULL' CSV HEADER QUOTE AS '"';
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: pgsql-novice-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org
> > [mailto:pgsql-novice-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org] On Behalf Of Steve T
> > Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 11:16 AM
> > To: PostGreSQL
> > Subject: [NOVICE] Flat File unload/export/copy
> >
> >
> > Is there a command that copies data from a table to a flat file for
> > specified selection criteria?
> > IE akin to a copy but not dumping a whole file?
> > If I'm about to do a major change to data in a table, I'd like to be
> > able to keep a copy of the data before the change (I know I can
> > Begin...rollback should things go wrong).
> >
> > Is there a command that I've missed? (Informix had an 'UNLOAD TO blah
> > SELECT blah..' type command which presumably was proprietary).
> > -----------------------------------------
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> >
>
>
>
> Steve Tucknott
> ReTSol Ltd
>
> DDI: 01323 488548
> Mobile: 0773 671 5772

Steve Tucknott
ReTSol Ltd

DDI: 01323 488548
Mobile: 0773 671 5772