Andrew Dunstan <andrew(at)dunslane(dot)net> writes:
> As for when it can be set, unless I'm mistaken you should be able to set
> it before any file is opened, if you need to, using PGOPTIONS or psql
> "dbname=mydb options='-c client_encoding=utf8'". Of course, if the
> server encoding is utf8 then, in the absence of it being set using those
> methods, the client encoding will start as utf8 also.
It could also be set in ~/.psqlrc, which would probably be the most
convenient method for regular users of UTF8 files who need to talk
to non-UTF8 databases.
regards, tom lane