"Jens-Wolfhard Schicke" <j(dot)schicke(at)asco(dot)de> writes:
> \h alter table
> is missing the syntax for the command
> alter table the_table alter column the_column type varchar(175);
Maybe you're using an old psql? My 8.2 psql shows
regression=> \h alter table
Command: ALTER TABLE
Description: change the definition of a table
Syntax:
ALTER TABLE [ ONLY ] name [ * ]
action [, ... ]
...
where action is one of:
...
ALTER [ COLUMN ] column TYPE type [ USING expression ]
...
regards, tom lane