How to generate the “create table” sql statement for an existing table in postgreSQL

Question

I have created a table in postgreSQL. I want to look at the SQL statement used to create the table but cannot figure it out.

How do I get the create table

Answer 1

If you want to find the create statement for a table without using pg_dump, This query might work for you (change 'tablename' with whatever your table is called):

SELECT                                          
  'CREATE TABLE ' || relname || E'\n(\n' ||
  array_to_string(
    array_agg(
      '    ' || column_name || ' ' ||  type || ' '|| not_null
    )
    , E',\n'
  ) || E'\n);\n'
from
(
  SELECT 
    c.relname, a.attname AS column_name,
    pg_catalog.format_type(a.atttypid, a.atttypmod) as type,
    case 
      when a.attnotnull
    then 'NOT NULL' 
    else 'NULL' 
    END as not_null 
  FROM pg_class c,
   pg_attribute a,
   pg_type t
   WHERE c.relname = 'tablename'
   AND a.attnum > 0
   AND a.attrelid = c.oid
   AND a.atttypid = t.oid
 ORDER BY a.attnum
) as tabledefinition
group by relname;

when called directly from psql, it is usefult to do:

\pset linestyle old-ascii

Also, the function generate_create_table_statement in this thread works very well.