dump encoding (was Re: 8.2 beta blockers)

Michael Paesold <mpaesold@gmx.at> writes:
>> * Set client encoding based on OS environment - Peter E.

> I really hope that this change will only affect psql, not pg_dump, as Peter 
> wrote in 2003. I would strongly object to such a change (as much as my 
> voice counts). The current behavior of dumping with the database encoding 
> is exactly the right thing to do.

Actually, I realize after a quick look at the pg_dump code that its
current behavior is to dump in1. Specified encoding if a -E switch is given.2. PGCLIENTENCODING, if that environment
varexists.3. Else, server encoding.
 
So there's already an environment dependency, although it's for
something much less likely to be set than LANG.  I tend to agree
that we'd better avoid having dumps depend on LANG ... wonder if
we should remove the dependency on PGCLIENTENCODING too.
        regards, tom lane