Re: replacing Access/ Approach etc

On Sat, Sep 08, 2007 at 08:26:04AM +0100, Richard Huxton wrote:
> Zenaan Harkness wrote:
> >Hi, a friend of mine on Windows, is attempting to convert to using
> >PostgreSQL (and of course, I'm helping him).
> >
> >The installation gave an option to run as an application, rather than as
> >a service.
> >
> >Turns out, my friends login account has Admin privs, and postgres.exe
> >will not run in an account with admin privs.
>
> Correct. Won't run as root on *nix either.
>
> >He wants to keep the "lightweight feel" and frankly I'd like that on my
> >Ubuntu box as well - to just fire up a local instance of postgresql
> >pointing at a particular "data" directory, and listing (on loopback/
> >localhost only) on an instance-specific port (point the exe at a local
> >.conf file).
> >
> >Why is this not so intuitive/ easy to set up?
>
> Apart from the windows-admin issue, what problems have you had?

He has many applications, lots of files (thousands - 10 years of work!),
and many customizations, on his primary account, which is an admin
account.

Is the only option to have to swap between users in order to run
postgresql as an application on windows?

If so, can this all be scripted in a batch file, ie. swapping user then
running postgres.exe?

I think I had a problem of not being able to get postgres.exe to load
the .conf file which I was editing, even with a command line parameter.
Unfortunately I don't have a windows box here and my friend's now in
another city. I'll have to get VMWare or something happening I guess...
the problem may simply have been getting postgres to run in his account,
the "Administrator" account ...

> >Is it useful goal to consider running multiple instances of pg, ala
> >microsoft access, lotus approach, etc?
>
> Most of the developers do. I do too. Usually different versions in
> different directories and on different ports. Nothing to stop you having
> multiple copies of the same version though.
>
> Since ubuntu is debian-based, apt should help you do all this. If you've
> got postgresql-common installed try "man pg_wrapper" as a start point.

Beautiful! That's exactly what I needed.

> >Install as service has a "feel" of heavywieght. I (and my friend) want
> >to have per-project local data directories, with all db meta data etc
> >all local to that directory and project. This way, a simple backup of
> >the entire project can be made (pg data, documentation, web site files,
> >etc, etc). Does this make sense?
>
> PostgreSQL *is* heavier than MS-Access. What you want to do should work
> fine though. Remember to stop PG before taking your backups though.

Not fussed with it actually being heavier weight. It's lighter than DB2
default install, and if I can just get it to run as an application, all
will be well.

> >Is there a way to achieve this, on windows?
> >Is there a way to achieve this, on gnu/linux?
>
> What problems have you had?

Seems to consistently bomb out on Windows. I think this is just due to
admin privs.

I tried many and varied combinations, and even sequences, of command
line parameters. Turns out at least one of the parameters is position
dependent, or must be last or something...

Thanks again
Zen

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