What is pg_class in Postgres and how to see it using pgAdmin 4? - postgresql

I'm new to Postgresql and I just saw my friends query on a cakePhp controller that call 'pq_class'. I tried to look up to my PostgreSQL database and find out what's inside using pgAgmin4.
Unfortunately, I can't see any table name with 'pg_class'. I tried to google and find these pages :
https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/catalog-pg-class.html
postgreSQL - pg_class question
But I am still confused about pg_class. Is there any good or real explanation about pg_class and how to see it using pgAdmin4 without using any query (just right click -> view data)

pg_class is an internal system table that stores information about tables (and similar objects") available in the database. Every database product has such a collection of system tables (and views) that it maintains.
You can (and in most cases should) use the views from the information_schema if you want to see information about tables, columns, views and other database objects.

You can get details from information_schema on pgadmin like this.
`
SELECT * FROM information_schema.columns;
select * from information_schema.tables`

Related

Is there a way to access one database from another in Postgresql? [duplicate]

I'm going to guess that the answer is "no" based on the below error message (and this Google result), but is there anyway to perform a cross-database query using PostgreSQL?
databaseA=# select * from databaseB.public.someTableName;
ERROR: cross-database references are not implemented:
"databaseB.public.someTableName"
I'm working with some data that is partitioned across two databases although data is really shared between the two (userid columns in one database come from the users table in the other database). I have no idea why these are two separate databases instead of schema, but c'est la vie...
Note: As the original asker implied, if you are setting up two databases on the same machine you probably want to make two schemas instead - in that case you don't need anything special to query across them.
postgres_fdw
Use postgres_fdw (foreign data wrapper) to connect to tables in any Postgres database - local or remote.
Note that there are foreign data wrappers for other popular data sources. At this time, only postgres_fdw and file_fdw are part of the official Postgres distribution.
For Postgres versions before 9.3
Versions this old are no longer supported, but if you need to do this in a pre-2013 Postgres installation, there is a function called dblink.
I've never used it, but it is maintained and distributed with the rest of PostgreSQL. If you're using the version of PostgreSQL that came with your Linux distro, you might need to install a package called postgresql-contrib.
dblink() -- executes a query in a remote database
dblink executes a query (usually a SELECT, but it can be any SQL
statement that returns rows) in a remote database.
When two text arguments are given, the first one is first looked up as
a persistent connection's name; if found, the command is executed on
that connection. If not found, the first argument is treated as a
connection info string as for dblink_connect, and the indicated
connection is made just for the duration of this command.
one of the good example:
SELECT *
FROM table1 tb1
LEFT JOIN (
SELECT *
FROM dblink('dbname=db2','SELECT id, code FROM table2')
AS tb2(id int, code text);
) AS tb2 ON tb2.column = tb1.column;
Note: I am giving this information for future reference. Reference
I have run into this before an came to the same conclusion about cross database queries as you. What I ended up doing was using schemas to divide the table space that way I could keep the tables grouped but still query them all.
Just to add a bit more information.
There is no way to query a database other than the current one. Because PostgreSQL loads database-specific system catalogs, it is uncertain how a cross-database query should even behave.
contrib/dblink allows cross-database queries using function calls. Of course, a client can also make simultaneous connections to different databases and merge the results on the client side.
PostgreSQL FAQ
Yes, you can by using DBlink (postgresql only) and DBI-Link (allows foreign cross database queriers) and TDS_LInk which allows queries to be run against MS SQL server.
I have used DB-Link and TDS-link before with great success.
I have checked and tried to create a foreign key relationships between 2 tables in 2 different databases using both dblink and postgres_fdw but with no result.
Having read the other peoples feedback on this, for example here and here and in some other sources it looks like there is no way to do that currently:
The dblink and postgres_fdw indeed enable one to connect to and query tables in other databases, which is not possible with the standard Postgres, but they do not allow to establish foreign key relationships between tables in different databases.
If performance is important and most queries are read-only, I would suggest to replicate data over to another database. While this seems like unneeded duplication of data, it might help if indexes are required.
This can be done with simple on insert triggers which in turn call dblink to update another copy. There are also full-blown replication options (like Slony) but that's off-topic.
see https://www.cybertec-postgresql.com/en/joining-data-from-multiple-postgres-databases/ [published 2017]
These days you also have the option to use https://prestodb.io/
You can run SQL on that PrestoDB node and it will distribute the SQL query as required. It can connect to the same node twice for different databases, or it might be connecting to different nodes on different hosts.
It does not support:
DELETE
ALTER TABLE
CREATE TABLE (CREATE TABLE AS is supported)
GRANT
REVOKE
SHOW GRANTS
SHOW ROLES
SHOW ROLE GRANTS
So you should only use it for SELECT and JOIN needs. Connect directly to each database for the above needs. (It looks like you can also INSERT or UPDATE which is nice)
Client applications connect to PrestoDB primarily using JDBC, but other types of connection are possible including a Tableu compatible web API
This is an open source tool governed by the Linux Foundation and Presto Foundation.
The founding members of the Presto Foundation are: Facebook, Uber,
Twitter, and Alibaba.
The current members are: Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Alibaba, Alluxio,
Ahana, Upsolver, and Intel.
In case someone needs a more involved example on how to do cross-database queries, here's an example that cleans up the databasechangeloglock table on every database that has it:
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS dblink;
DO
$$
DECLARE database_name TEXT;
DECLARE conn_template TEXT;
DECLARE conn_string TEXT;
DECLARE table_exists Boolean;
BEGIN
conn_template = 'user=myuser password=mypass dbname=';
FOR database_name IN
SELECT datname FROM pg_database
WHERE datistemplate = false
LOOP
conn_string = conn_template || database_name;
table_exists = (select table_exists_ from dblink(conn_string, '(select Count(*) > 0 from information_schema.tables where table_name = ''databasechangeloglock'')') as (table_exists_ Boolean));
IF table_exists THEN
perform dblink_exec(conn_string, 'delete from databasechangeloglock');
END IF;
END LOOP;
END
$$

How I can connect multiple Postgres Database in a single SQL query? [duplicate]

I'm going to guess that the answer is "no" based on the below error message (and this Google result), but is there anyway to perform a cross-database query using PostgreSQL?
databaseA=# select * from databaseB.public.someTableName;
ERROR: cross-database references are not implemented:
"databaseB.public.someTableName"
I'm working with some data that is partitioned across two databases although data is really shared between the two (userid columns in one database come from the users table in the other database). I have no idea why these are two separate databases instead of schema, but c'est la vie...
Note: As the original asker implied, if you are setting up two databases on the same machine you probably want to make two schemas instead - in that case you don't need anything special to query across them.
postgres_fdw
Use postgres_fdw (foreign data wrapper) to connect to tables in any Postgres database - local or remote.
Note that there are foreign data wrappers for other popular data sources. At this time, only postgres_fdw and file_fdw are part of the official Postgres distribution.
For Postgres versions before 9.3
Versions this old are no longer supported, but if you need to do this in a pre-2013 Postgres installation, there is a function called dblink.
I've never used it, but it is maintained and distributed with the rest of PostgreSQL. If you're using the version of PostgreSQL that came with your Linux distro, you might need to install a package called postgresql-contrib.
dblink() -- executes a query in a remote database
dblink executes a query (usually a SELECT, but it can be any SQL
statement that returns rows) in a remote database.
When two text arguments are given, the first one is first looked up as
a persistent connection's name; if found, the command is executed on
that connection. If not found, the first argument is treated as a
connection info string as for dblink_connect, and the indicated
connection is made just for the duration of this command.
one of the good example:
SELECT *
FROM table1 tb1
LEFT JOIN (
SELECT *
FROM dblink('dbname=db2','SELECT id, code FROM table2')
AS tb2(id int, code text);
) AS tb2 ON tb2.column = tb1.column;
Note: I am giving this information for future reference. Reference
I have run into this before an came to the same conclusion about cross database queries as you. What I ended up doing was using schemas to divide the table space that way I could keep the tables grouped but still query them all.
Just to add a bit more information.
There is no way to query a database other than the current one. Because PostgreSQL loads database-specific system catalogs, it is uncertain how a cross-database query should even behave.
contrib/dblink allows cross-database queries using function calls. Of course, a client can also make simultaneous connections to different databases and merge the results on the client side.
PostgreSQL FAQ
Yes, you can by using DBlink (postgresql only) and DBI-Link (allows foreign cross database queriers) and TDS_LInk which allows queries to be run against MS SQL server.
I have used DB-Link and TDS-link before with great success.
I have checked and tried to create a foreign key relationships between 2 tables in 2 different databases using both dblink and postgres_fdw but with no result.
Having read the other peoples feedback on this, for example here and here and in some other sources it looks like there is no way to do that currently:
The dblink and postgres_fdw indeed enable one to connect to and query tables in other databases, which is not possible with the standard Postgres, but they do not allow to establish foreign key relationships between tables in different databases.
If performance is important and most queries are read-only, I would suggest to replicate data over to another database. While this seems like unneeded duplication of data, it might help if indexes are required.
This can be done with simple on insert triggers which in turn call dblink to update another copy. There are also full-blown replication options (like Slony) but that's off-topic.
see https://www.cybertec-postgresql.com/en/joining-data-from-multiple-postgres-databases/ [published 2017]
These days you also have the option to use https://prestodb.io/
You can run SQL on that PrestoDB node and it will distribute the SQL query as required. It can connect to the same node twice for different databases, or it might be connecting to different nodes on different hosts.
It does not support:
DELETE
ALTER TABLE
CREATE TABLE (CREATE TABLE AS is supported)
GRANT
REVOKE
SHOW GRANTS
SHOW ROLES
SHOW ROLE GRANTS
So you should only use it for SELECT and JOIN needs. Connect directly to each database for the above needs. (It looks like you can also INSERT or UPDATE which is nice)
Client applications connect to PrestoDB primarily using JDBC, but other types of connection are possible including a Tableu compatible web API
This is an open source tool governed by the Linux Foundation and Presto Foundation.
The founding members of the Presto Foundation are: Facebook, Uber,
Twitter, and Alibaba.
The current members are: Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Alibaba, Alluxio,
Ahana, Upsolver, and Intel.
In case someone needs a more involved example on how to do cross-database queries, here's an example that cleans up the databasechangeloglock table on every database that has it:
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS dblink;
DO
$$
DECLARE database_name TEXT;
DECLARE conn_template TEXT;
DECLARE conn_string TEXT;
DECLARE table_exists Boolean;
BEGIN
conn_template = 'user=myuser password=mypass dbname=';
FOR database_name IN
SELECT datname FROM pg_database
WHERE datistemplate = false
LOOP
conn_string = conn_template || database_name;
table_exists = (select table_exists_ from dblink(conn_string, '(select Count(*) > 0 from information_schema.tables where table_name = ''databasechangeloglock'')') as (table_exists_ Boolean));
IF table_exists THEN
perform dblink_exec(conn_string, 'delete from databasechangeloglock');
END IF;
END LOOP;
END
$$

Fully Qualify MS Access Table

I have an Access query, which references a table: dbo_table2
However, I have moved this table to another database, so I need to fully qualify to restore the links.
SELECT table1.x, table1.y, table2.z
FROM dbo_table1
INNER JOIN dbo_table2
ON (dbo_ID = dbo_ID)
Both tables are being pulled from SQL tables.
In my Access query I have added table2 as a Linked Table.
But I'm unsure of Access syntax. If I was using SQL, I would simply use "newdatabaseDB.dbo.table2".
My question is how can I correctly name the table2 reference by fully qualifying the database and table name.
If you moved your table to another db, just Link that table in your current db. This way you can use just as it was local.
There is another option, using IN:
select * from clients in 'c:\test\mydb.mdb'
Also see https://stackoverflow.com/a/3123395/78522
Cracked it!
By creating a link to an external table in the database where the query was created, Access then treats the table in the queries as if it were local (so no fully qualification needed).

SQl Table displays no table under connection

I am using Orable DB in my application and SQL Developer Query Browser for UI Purpose.
Today I faced a very strage issue, I run a query in the query browser which gives me records successfully. But under the connection -> Table tree hierarchy, no tables are displayed.
From stackoverflow I got a solution from here : SQLDeveloper displays no tables under connections where it says tables
But under "Other Users" tree, it displays large list of schemas. So I am confused which schema is used by me query.
Any suggestion ??
Assuming that you are running a query that involves an unqualified identifier
SELECT *
FROM some_object
and that you haven't done something odd like changing the current_schema of the session, the object is either something that exists in your schema or is a public synonym.
SELECT owner, object_type, object_name
FROM all_objects
WHERE object_name = 'SOME_OBJECT'
will show you all the objects that you have access to with that name.

Joining Results from Two Separate Databases

Is it possible to JOIN rows from two separate postgres databases?
I am working with system with couple databases in one server and sometimes I really need such a feature.
According to http://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/FAQ
There is no way to query a database other than the current one.
Because PostgreSQL loads database-specific system catalogs, it is
uncertain how a cross-database query should even behave.
contrib/dblink allows cross-database queries using function calls. Of
course, a client can also make simultaneous connections to different
databases and merge the results on the client side.
EDIT: 3 years later (march 2014), this FAQ entry has been revised and is more helpful:
How do I perform queries using multiple databases?
There is no way to directly query a database other than the current
one. Because PostgreSQL loads database-specific system catalogs, it is
uncertain how a cross-database query should even behave.
The SQL/MED support in PostgreSQL allows a "foreign data wrapper" to
be created, linking tables in a remote database to the local database.
The remote database might be another database on the same PostgreSQL
instance, or a database half way around the world, it doesn't matter.
postgres_fdw is built-in to PostgreSQL 9.3 and includes read/write
support; a read-only version for 9.2 can be compiled and installed as
a contrib module.
contrib/dblink allows cross-database queries using function calls and
is available for much older PostgreSQL versions. Unlike postgres_fdw
it can't "push down" conditions to the remote server, so it'll often
land up fetching a lot more data than you need.
Of course, a client can also make simultaneous connections to
different databases and merge the results on the client side.
Forget about dblink!
Say hello to Postgres_FDW:
To prepare for remote access using postgres_fdw:
Install the postgres_fdw extension using CREATE EXTENSION.
Create a foreign server object, using CREATE SERVER, to represent each remote database you want to connect to. Specify connection
information, except user, and password, as options of the server
object.
Create a user mapping, using CREATE USER MAPPING, for each database user you want to allow to access each foreign server. Specify
the remote user name and password to use as user and password options
of the user mapping.
Create a foreign table, using CREATE FOREIGN TABLE or IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA, for each remote table you want to access. The columns
of the foreign table must match the referenced remote table. You can,
however, use table and/or column names different from the remote
table's, if you specify the correct remote names as options of the
foreign table object.
Now you need only SELECT from a foreign table to access the data
stored in its underlying remote table.
It's really useful even on large data.
Yes, it is possible to do this using dblink albeit with significant performance considerations.
The following example will require the current SQL user to have permissions on both databases. If db2 is not located on the same cluster, then you will need to replace dbname=db2 with the full connection string defined in the dblink documentation.
SELECT *
FROM table1 tb1
LEFT JOIN (
SELECT *
FROM dblink('dbname=db2','SELECT id, code FROM table2')
AS tb2(id int, code text);
) AS tb2 ON tb2.column = tb1.column;
If table2 is very large, you could have performance issues because the sub-query loads up the entire table2 before performing the join.
No you can't. You could use dblink to connect from one database to another database, but that won't help if you're looking for JOIN's.
You can't use different SCHEMA's within a single database to store all you data?
Just a few steps and You can reach the goal:
follow this reference step by step
WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO DB2 WITH TABLE TBL2 AND COLUMN COL2
ALSO THERE IS DB1 WITH TBL1 AND COLUMN COL1
*** connecting to second db ie db2
Now just **copy paste the 1-7 processes** (make sure u use correct username and password and ofcourse db name)
1.**CREATE EXTENSION dblink;**
2.**SELECT pg_namespace.nspname, pg_proc.proname
FROM pg_proc, pg_namespace
WHERE pg_proc.pronamespace=pg_namespace.oid
AND pg_proc.proname LIKE '%dblink%';**
3.**SELECT dblink_connect('host=localhost user=postgres password=postgres dbname=db1');**
4.**CREATE FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER postgres VALIDATOR postgresql_fdw_validator;**
5.**CREATE SERVER postgres2 FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER postgres OPTIONS (hostaddr '127.0.0.1', dbname 'db1');**
6.**CREATE USER MAPPING FOR postgres SERVER postgres2 OPTIONS (user 'postgres', password 'postgres');**
7.**SELECT dblink_connect('postgres2');**
---Now, you can SELECT the data of Database_One from Database_Two and even join both db results:
**SELECT * FROM public.dblink
('postgres2','SELECT col1,um_name FROM public.tbl1 ')
AS DATA(um_userid INTEGER),tbl2 where DATA.col1=tbl2.col2;**
You can also Check this :[How to join two tables of different databases together in postgresql [\[working finely in version 9.4\]][1]
You need to use dblink...as araqnid mentioned above, something like this works fine:
select ST.Table_Name, ST.Column_Name, DV.Table_Name, DV.Column_Name, *
from information_schema.Columns ST
full outer join dblink('dbname=otherdatabase','select Table_Name,
Column_Name from information_schema.Columns') DV(Table_Name text,
Column_Name text)
on ST.Table_Name = DV.Table_name
and ST.Column_Name = DV.Column_Name
where ST.Column_Name is null or DV.Column_Name is NULL
You have use dblink extension of postgresql.
Reference take from this Article:
DbLink extension of PostgreSQL which is used to connect one database to another database.
Install DbLink extension.
CREATE EXTENSION dblink;
Verify DbLink:
SELECT pg_namespace.nspname, pg_proc.proname
FROM pg_proc, pg_namespace
WHERE pg_proc.pronamespace=pg_namespace.oid
AND pg_proc.proname LIKE '%dblink%';
I have already prepared full demonstration on this. Please visit my post to learn step by step for executing cross database query in Postgresql.
Cannot be done? Of course we can, without special extensions. In our case, we had to compare two tables from different database servers, e.g. ACC and PROD, hence an even harder case than from most answers. Especially because ACC and PROD are deliberately on different servers to create a barrier, so you will not easily gain enough rights to perform a GRANT USAGE ON FOREIGN SERVER.
The obvious solution is to export both tables, and import both in the same database, e.g. DEV, or your own local db, under appropriate names, e.g. table1_acc and table1_prod, or schemas like acc and prod. Then, you may JOIN those with no special problems.