Re: advice

Josh Berkus <josh@agliodbs.com> writes:
>> I'm planning to something like
>> INSERT INTO first_table
>> SELECT * FROM second_table s WHERE
>> NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM first_table WHERE id = s.id)

> This is the way to do it, athough I'd fully qualify both "id" fields in the
> subquery and use an alias to avoid confusion, e.g.
> NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM first_table f2 WHERE f2.id = s.id)

Since the tables have identical column sets, you could also think about

INSERT INTO first_table
(SELECT * FROM second_table EXCEPT SELECT * FROM first_table)

which might or might not run considerably faster.  It'd be worth trying
I think.

            regards, tom lane