Обсуждение: obtaining column names from tables or views

moin,<br /><br />I've got a question. I'm scripting against an existing postgresql database environment and need to
tweakqueries based on the columns in the views or tables, how can if find these w/o querying the tables or views. <br
/><br/>Currently I execute the querie and collect the columns but this is rather expensive, silly and fails when the
tableor view is empty.<br /><br />-- <br />Met vriendelijke groeten/with kind regards<br /><br />        John van
Zantvoort<br /><br />---<br />Most burning issues generate far more heat than light.<br /><br />-----BEGIN GEEK CODE
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John van Zantvoort wrote:
> moin,
> 
> I've got a question. I'm scripting against an existing postgresql database
> environment and need to tweak queries based on the columns in the views or
> tables, how can if find these w/o querying the tables or views.

There is a whole section of the manual devoted to the system catalogues:
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/static/catalogs.html
Or there's the "information schema" which is in a standardised layout 
but doesn't include PG-specific details. http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/static/information-schema.html

--   Richard Huxton  Archonet Ltd