Create Table Question...

The docs ( 9.0.2) for create table asserts that a data type representing a row of
the table is automatically created.

Tain't clear to me what this means...

Here is a fragment of sql that I frequently use:
*************
insert into checks (select *
   from dblink('select * from checks where date >=''1/1/2011''')
   as (date date,
       amount numeric(9,2),
        tranid text,
       source text,
       memo text,
       status text,
       category text
      ) );
**************
The stuff after the 'as' is a description of the
rows of the table checks.

Could I shortened the above by using the automatically created row type of
the table checks?

Thanks

Jerry