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PostgreSQL expanded mode

January 2, 2014

Tags: postgresql

If your data does not fit on the screen in psql you can toggle what is called "expanded table formatting mode" to display the data as pairs of field name and value. Toggle this mode with \x. See http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.3/static/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-META-COMMANDS.

Before:

 id |             name             | content_type_id |        codename
----+------------------------------+-----------------+-------------------------
  1 | Can add permission           |               1 | add_permission
  2 | Can change permission        |               1 | change_permission
  3 | Can delete permission        |               1 | delete_permission
  4 | Can add group                |               2 | add_group
  5 | Can change group             |               2 | change_group
  6 | Can delete group             |               2 | delete_group
  7 | Can add user                 |               3 | add_user
  8 | Can change user              |               3 | change_user
  9 | Can delete user              |               3 | delete_user
 10 | Can add content type         |               4 | add_contenttype
 11 | Can change content type      |               4 | change_contenttype
 12 | Can delete content type      |               4 | delete_contenttype
 13 | Can add session              |               5 | add_session
 14 | Can change session           |               5 | change_session
 15 | Can delete session           |               5 | delete_session
 16 | Can add log entry            |               6 | add_logentry
 17 | Can change log entry         |               6 | change_logentry
 18 | Can delete log entry         |               6 | delete_logentry
 19 | Can add migration history    |               7 | add_migrationhistory
 20 | Can change migration history |               7 | change_migrationhistory
 21 | Can delete migration history |               7 | delete_migrationhistory
(21 rows)

After:

-[ RECORD 1 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 1
name            | Can add permission
content_type_id | 1
codename        | add_permission
-[ RECORD 2 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 2
name            | Can change permission
content_type_id | 1
codename        | change_permission
-[ RECORD 3 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 3
name            | Can delete permission
content_type_id | 1
codename        | delete_permission
-[ RECORD 4 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 4
name            | Can add group
content_type_id | 2
codename        | add_group
-[ RECORD 5 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 5
name            | Can change group
content_type_id | 2
codename        | change_group
-[ RECORD 6 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 6
name            | Can delete group
content_type_id | 2
codename        | delete_group
-[ RECORD 7 ]---+-----------------------------
id              | 7
name            | Can add user
content_type_id | 3
codename        | add_user
: