PG_DUMP(UNIX)

NAME
       pg_dump - dumps out a Postgres database into a script file

SYNOPSIS
       pg_dump [-a ] [-d ] [-D ] [-f filename ]  [-h  hostname  ]
       [-o ] [-p port] [-s ] [-t table] [-v ] [-u] dbname

DESCRIPTION
       pg_dump  is  a utility for dumping out a Postgres database
       into a script file containing query commands.  The  script
       files are in a ASCII format and can be used to reconstruct
       the database, even on other machines and  other  architec-
       tures.   pg_dump will produce the queries necessary to re-
       generate  all  user-defined  types,   functions,   tables,
       indices,  aggregates, and operators.  In addition, all the
       data is copied out in ASCII format so that it can be read-
       ily  copied  in again, as well, as imported into tools for
       textual editing.

       pg_dump is useful  for  dumping  out  the  contents  of  a
       database  to  move  from  one  postgreSQL  installation to
       another.  After running pg_dump , one should  examine  the
       output  script  file for any warnings, especially in light
       of the limitations listed below.

       pg_dump understands the following options:

       -a     Dump out only the data, no schema

       -d     Dump data as proper insert strings

       -D     Dump data as inserts with attribute names

       -f filename
              Specifies the output file

       -h hostname
              Specifies the server host name

       -o     Dump object id's (oids)

       -p port
              Specifies the server port number

       -s     Dump out only the schema, no data

       -t table
              Dump for this table only

       -u     Use password authentication. Prompts  for  username
              and password.

       -v     Specifies verbose mode

       If  dbname  is not supplied, then the DATABASE environment
       variable value is used.

CAVEATS AND LIMITATIONS
       pg_dump has a few  limitations.   The  limitations  mostly
       stem  from  difficulty in extracting certain meta-informa-
       tion from the system catalogs.

       rules and views
              pg_dump does not understand user-defined rules  and
              views  and  will fail to dump them properly.  (This
              is due to the fact that rules are stored  as  plans
              in the catalogs and not textually)

       partial indices
              pg_dump  does  not understand partial indices. (The
              reason is the same as above.  Partial index  predi-
              cates are stored as plans)

       large objects
              pg_dump  does  not  handle  large  objects.   Large
              objects are ignored and must be  dealt  with  manu-
              ally.

EXAMPLES
       To dump a database:

            pg_dump >db.out

       To reload it:

            psql -e database <db.out

SEE ALSO
       copy(l)