PostgreSQL 8.3.1 Documentation
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# 2.1. Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of how to use SQL to perform simple operations. This tutorial is only intended to give you an introduction and is in no way a complete tutorial on SQL. Numerous books have been written on SQL, including Understanding the New SQL and A Guide to the SQL Standard. You should be aware that some PostgreSQL language features are extensions to the standard.

In the examples that follow, we assume that you have created a database named `mydb`, as described in the previous chapter, and have been able to start psql.

Examples in this manual can also be found in the PostgreSQL source distribution in the directory `src/tutorial/`. To use those files, first change to that directory and run make:

    $ cd ..../src/tutorial
    $ make

This creates the scripts and compiles the C files containing user-defined functions and types. (If you installed a pre-packaged version of PostgreSQL rather than building from source, look for a directory named `tutorial` within the PostgreSQL documentation. The "make" part should already have been done for you.) Then, to start the tutorial, do the following:

    $ cd ..../tutorial
    $ psql -s mydb
    ...

    mydb=> \i basics.sql

The `\i` command reads in commands from the specified file. The `-s` option puts you in single step mode which pauses before sending each statement to the server. The commands used in this section are in the file `basics.sql`.

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