Alternate output format for psql

Question

I am using PostgreSQL 8.4 on Ubuntu. I have a table with columns c1 through cN. The columns are wide enough that selecting all columns causes a row

Answer 1

You have so many choices, how could you be confused :-)? The main controls are:

# \pset format
# \H
# \x
# \pset pager off

Each has options and interactions with the others. The most automatic options are:

# \x off;\pset format wrapped
# \x auto

The newer "\x auto" option switches to line-by-line display only "if needed".

-[ RECORD 1 ]---------------
id          | 6
description | This is a gallery of oilve oil brands.
authority   | I love olive oil, and wanted to create a place for
reviews and comments on various types.
-[ RECORD 2 ]---------------
id          | 19
description | XXX Test A 
authority   | Testing

The older "\pset format wrapped" is similar in that it tries to fit the data neatly on screen, but falls back to unaligned if the headers won't fit. Here's an example of wrapped:

 id |          description           |            authority            
----+--------------------------------+---------------------------------
  6 | This is a gallery of oilve     | I love olive oil, and wanted to
    ; oil brands.                    ;  create a place for reviews and
    ;                                ;  comments on various types.
 19 | Test Test A                    | Testing