Re: DOCS - Add missing EXCEPT parameter description to ALTER PUBLICATION

On Tue, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM shveta malik <shveta(dot)malik(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:12 AM Nisha Moond <nisha(dot)moond412(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Hackers,
> >
> > As Peter noted in [1], the ALTER PUBLICATION documentation is missing
> > a parameter description for the EXCEPT clause. Ref: Commit fd36606
> > introduced the EXCEPT clause.
> >
> > Attached is a simple patch to document the clause and its behavior.
> >
> > [1] https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CAHut%2BPs3sghX4qv1jehqMgvZG7DmUoAFqgjmVc5xUy%2Bv5kHN3w%40mail.gmail.com
> >
>
> The patch LGTM.
>
> I have one more point to discuss. The EXCEPT implementation also
> introduced a new ALTER-PUB variation where users can convert an ALL
> TABLE to ALL SEQ and vice versa. We have not explained that anywhere.
> I am not sure if a one-line explanation can be added. If not, I think
> we can at-least add an example at the end for the same. Thoughts?
>
> The existing examples are:
>
> ~~
> Replace the table list in the publication's EXCEPT clause:
> ALTER PUBLICATION mypublication SET ALL TABLES EXCEPT (TABLE users,
> departments);
>
> Reset the publication to be a FOR ALL TABLES publication with no
> excluded tables:
> ALTER PUBLICATION mypublication SET ALL TABLES;
> ~~
>
> We can add one more:
> Convert an ALL TABLES publication to ALL SEQUENCES one:
> ALTER PUBLICATION mypublication SET ALL SEQUENCES;
>

Okay, I see we already have this line in doc in initial explanation:

The SET ALL TABLES clause can transform an empty publication, or one
defined for ALL SEQUENCES (or both ALL TABLES and ALL SEQUENCES), into
a publication defined for ALL TABLES. Likewise, SET ALL SEQUENCES can
convert an empty publication, or one defined for ALL TABLES (or both
ALL TABLES and ALL SEQUENCES), into a publication defined for ALL
SEQUENCES.
~~

So please ignore my comment about a one-line explanation. An example
may be added though (if others also think so).

thanks
Shveta