Re: Output filter for psql

D'Arcy J.M. Cain wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:22:04 -0500
> "D'Arcy J.M. Cain"  wrote:
>   
>> So, I guess psql should pass XML to the user's filter and simply dump
>> its output to the screen.  Is XML the best format?  It would allow us
>> to pass meta information.  For example, we could pass the border
>> setting so that the filter could change its output based on it.
>>     
>
> Pardon me while I argue with myself.  :-)
>
> I wonder if XML isn't overkill for this.  I think that we only need
> three pieces of information:
>  - The column headings
>  - The column types (in case the user wants it)
>  - The data
>
> XML would be difficult from both the server as well as the user.
> Perhaps the simplest thing for both sides is simply CSV with an extra
> row for type.  For example:
>
> person_id,person_name,person_email
> int,text,text
> 1,"darcy","D'Arcy Cain"
> 2,"tom","Tom Lane"
> 3,"bruce","Bruce Momjian"
> ...etc.
>
> The user could choose to ignore the second line if he doesn't need it.
> I suppose we could define another line with options that we could
> define for meta information such as the border setting and the table
> name and whatever we define later.  E.g:
>
> "table:person","border:3","funky:option with \":\""
>   

Why do you want to add this extra information? psql doesn't output it 
now, and IIRC your original proposal didn't do it either.

cheers

andrew