Re: COPY with column headings

Might be worthwhile to look at SQL*Server BCP format files:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/adminsq
l/ad_impt_bcp_9yat.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/tsqlref
/ts_ba-bz_4fec.asp

A TCL/TK front end would be especially nice.  Of course, being a lazy
slug, I am not volunteering to write any of this.  Just a thought in
case someone else is interested in doing it.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pgsql-hackers-owner@postgresql.org
> [mailto:pgsql-hackers-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Tom Lane
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 12:04 PM
> To: Andrew Dunstan
> Cc: Bruce Momjian; PostgreSQL-development
> Subject: Re: [HACKERS] COPY with column headings
>
>
> Andrew Dunstan <andrew@dunslane.net> writes:
> > 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.
>
> Well, if we wanted to *require* a heading row in CSV mode, it
> would be relatively foolproof.  What I don't like is the
> proposal for an independent option; you've got a 50-50 chance
> of getting it wrong on import, and that's too high odds for me.
>
> Next question: are you imagining that the header row will
> actually have any semantic significance on input?  Will we
> check the column names? Will we be willing to rearrange the
> columns if the header row claims the column order is
> different than the COPY command says?
>
>             regards, tom lane
>
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