]>

<book id="postgres">

<title>PostgreSQL &version; Documentation</title>

<title>&productname; &version; Documentation</title>

<bookinfo>

<corpauthor>Postgres Professional</corpauthor>

<corpauthor>The PostgreSQL Global Development Group</corpauthor>

<productname>PostgreSQL</productname>

<productname>&productname;</productname>

<productnumber>&version;</productnumber>

&legal;

</bookinfo>

<partintro>

<para>

Welcome to the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> Tutorial. The

Welcome to the <productname>&productname;</productname> Tutorial. The

following few chapters are intended to give a simple introduction

to <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>, relational database

to <productname>&productname;</productname>, relational database

concepts, and the SQL language to those who are new to any one of

these aspects. We only assume some general knowledge about how to

use computers. No particular Unix or programming experience is

on to reading <xref linkend="sql"> to gain a more formal knowledge

of the SQL language, or <xref linkend="client-interfaces"> for

information about developing applications for

<productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. Those who set up and

<productname>&productname;</productname>. Those who set up and

manage their own server should also read <xref linkend="admin">.

</para>

</partintro>

<partintro>

<para>

This part describes the use of the <acronym>SQL</acronym> language

in <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. We start with

in <productname>&productname;</productname>. We start with

describing the general syntax of <acronym>SQL</acronym>, then

explain how to create the structures to hold data, how to populate

the database, and how to query it. The middle part lists the

<para>

Readers of this part should know how to connect to a

<productname>PostgreSQL</> database and issue

<productname>&productname;</> database and issue

<acronym>SQL</acronym> commands. Readers that are unfamiliar with

these issues are encouraged to read <xref linkend="tutorial">

first. <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands are typically entered

using the <productname>PostgreSQL</> interactive terminal

using the <productname>&productname;</> interactive terminal

<application>psql</application>, but other programs that have

similar functionality can be used as well.

</para>

<partintro>

<para>

This part covers topics that are of interest to a

<productname>PostgreSQL</> database administrator. This includes

<productname>&productname;</> database administrator. This includes

installation of the software, set up and configuration of the

server, management of users and databases, and maintenance tasks.

Anyone who runs a <productname>PostgreSQL</> server, even for

Anyone who runs a <productname>&productname;</> server, even for

personal use, but especially in production, should be familiar

with the topics covered in this part.

</para>

up their own server can begin their exploration with this part.

The rest of this part is about tuning and management; that material

assumes that the reader is familiar with the general use of

the <productname>PostgreSQL</> database system. Readers are

the <productname>&productname;</> database system. Readers are

encouraged to look at <xref linkend="tutorial"> and <xref

linkend="sql"> for additional information.

</para>

<partintro>

<para>

This part describes the client programming interfaces distributed

with <productname>PostgreSQL</>. Each of these chapters can be

with <productname>&productname;</>. Each of these chapters can be

read independently. Note that there are many other programming

interfaces for client programs that are distributed separately and

contain their own documentation (<xref linkend="external-projects">

This part is about extending the server functionality with

user-defined functions, data types, triggers, etc. These are

advanced topics which should probably be approached only after all

the other user documentation about <productname>PostgreSQL</> has

the other user documentation about <productname>&productname;</> has

been understood. Later chapters in this part describe the server-side

programming languages available in the

<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> distribution as well as

<productname>&productname;</productname> distribution as well as

general issues concerning server-side programming languages. It

is essential to read at least the earlier sections of <xref

linkend="extend"> (covering functions) before diving into the

<partintro>

<para>

This part contains assorted information that might be of use to

<productname>PostgreSQL</> developers.

<productname>&productname;</> developers.

</para>

</partintro>