Re: column names, types, properties for a table

> Is it possible to issue an SQL query that lists column names, types (int,
> varchar, boolean, etc.), properties (like NOT NULL or UNIQUE)
> for a given table name ?

Start psql with the -E option.  Then "\d yourtable".  It will print out 
the queries that are run internally to show you the table info... for 
example:

% psql -E cc_8004
Welcome to psql 7.4.2, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.

Type:  \copyright for distribution terms       \h for help with SQL commands       \? for help on internal slash
commands      \g or terminate with semicolon to execute query       \q to quit
 

cc_8004=# \d rep_general;
********* QUERY **********
SELECT c.oid,  n.nspname,  c.relname
FROM pg_catalog.pg_class c     LEFT JOIN pg_catalog.pg_namespace n ON n.oid = c.relnamespace
WHERE pg_catalog.pg_table_is_visible(c.oid)      AND c.relname ~ '^rep_general$'
ORDER BY 2, 3;
**************************

********* QUERY **********
SELECT relhasindex, relkind, relchecks, reltriggers, relhasrules
FROM pg_catalog.pg_class WHERE oid = '21548032'
**************************

********* QUERY **********
SELECT a.attname,  pg_catalog.format_type(a.atttypid, a.atttypmod),  (SELECT substring(d.adsrc for 128) FROM
pg_catalog.pg_attrdefd   WHERE d.adrelid = a.attrelid AND d.adnum = a.attnum AND a.atthasdef),  a.attnotnull, a.attnum
 
FROM pg_catalog.pg_attribute a
WHERE a.attrelid = '21548032' AND a.attnum > 0 AND NOT a.attisdropped
ORDER BY a.attnum
**************************

********* QUERY **********
SELECT c2.relname, i.indisprimary, i.indisunique, 
pg_catalog.pg_get_indexdef(i.indexrelid)
FROM pg_catalog.pg_class c, pg_catalog.pg_class c2, pg_catalog.pg_index i
WHERE c.oid = '21548032' AND c.oid = i.indrelid AND i.indexrelid = c2.oid
ORDER BY i.indisprimary DESC, i.indisunique DESC, c2.relname
**************************

********* QUERY **********
SELECT c.relname FROM pg_catalog.pg_class c, pg_catalog.pg_inherits i 
WHERE c.oid=i.inhparent AND i.inhrelid = '21548032' ORDER BY inhseqno ASC
**************************
                         Table "public.rep_general"         Column          |            Type             |
Modifiers
-------------------------+-----------------------------+-------------------- id                      | integer
          | not null loc_id                  | integer                     | not null dt                      |
timestampwithout time zone | not null num_active_visits       | integer                     | not null default 0
num_passive_visits     | integer                     | not null default 0 min_visit_length        | integer
       | not null default 0 max_visit_length        | integer                     | not null default 0
total_visit_length     | integer                     | not null default 0 total_time_before_touch | integer
       | not null default 0 total_time_of_touch     | integer                     | not null default 0
num_coupons_printed    | integer                     | not null default 0 num_passive_promos      | integer
       | not null default 0 num_active_promos       | integer                     | not null default 0
 
Indexes:    "rep_general_pk" primary key, btree (id)    "rep_general_dt_idx" btree (dt)    "rep_general_loc_id_idx"
btree(loc_id)
 

cc_8004=#