Re: psql wrapped format default for backslash-d commands

Bryce Nesbitt wrote:
> 
> Brendan Jurd wrote:
> > I really like the idea of wrapping, but after playing with the format
> > a bit myself, I have to agree with Tom that breaking in the middle of
> > words produces some very nasty output.
> >
> > If the format could be improved to only wrap on word boudaries, that
> > would increase its appeal dramatically.
> >
> > Anybody got a rough idea how difficult it would be to add
> > word-awareness int o the wrapping code?
> 
> I chose not to, when writing the patch, because it makes the result flow 
> over many more lines.
> And regardless, it pretty much has to cut long "words", of which there 
> are many in typical SQL output.
> And, I hardly ever read actual large blocks of English at the SQL 
> prompt, so: designing for that use case did
> not float my boat at the time.
> And, word wrapping messes with the cell contents more than I was 
> comfortable doing. With the current wrapping all whitespace is preserved 
> and apparent.
> 
> But, if your boat is floated, then by all means go for it.

Added to TODO:
       o Add option to wrap column values at whitespace boundaries,         rather than chopping them at a fixed
width.
         Currently, "wrapped" format chops values into fixed         widths.  Perhaps the word wrapping could use the
same        algorithm documented in the W3C specification.
http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2008-05/msg00404.php
http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/tables.html#auto-table-layout

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http://enterprisedb.com
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