Re: COPY with column headings

Added to TODO:

>       o Allow COPY to optionally include column headings as the first

I know Tom didn't like it but there were others who did.

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Andrew Dunstan wrote:
> 
> 
> Tom Lane wrote:
> 
> >Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> writes:
> >  
> >
> >>>I certainly think it's worth considering, although I see Tom has 
> >>>objected :-) . Say we have an option called FIRSTLINELABELS, then on 
> >>>copy out it would write the headings on the first line, and on copy in 
> >>>it could just ignore the first line (so it could work symmetrically).
> >>>      
> >>>
> >
> >  
> >
> >>Yes, that is what I was thinking.  Is this a TODO?  Sure it can be
> >>misused but most copy options can be similarly misused.
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Most copy options will result in obvious failures if misused.  I dislike
> >this one because of the high risk of silent corruption of your data
> >(loss of a row or insertion of a row that shouldn't be there).
> >Considering no one has even made a positive case why we should add it
> >(for instance, a use-case where it's necessary), I don't think it
> >belongs in the to-do list.
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> The use case is that it fits in with the way spreadsheets usually do 
> data tables, and many will only allow you to export a whole worksheet 
> (including the heading row) to CSV, not a part of one. Conversely, 
> working with imported data tables will be harder if they lack headings.
> 
> cheers
> 
> andrew
> 

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