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Q&A How to sort the output of meta / slash commands in `psql`?

It's been a while, but the answer is "yes and no," I believe. No: The describe-schema command doesn't (last I heard) allow any modification. Yes: The describe-schema command also doesn't do any...

posted 2mo ago by John C‭  ·  edited 2mo ago by toraritte‭

Answer
#2: Post edited by user avatar toraritte‭ · 2024-05-12T23:39:38Z (about 2 months ago)
Hope you don't mind me adding this to your answer. I thought there would be no point in opening another one. Thanks again!
  • It's been a while, but the answer is "yes and no," I believe.
  • No: The describe-schema command doesn't (last I heard) allow any modification.
  • Yes: The describe-schema command *also* doesn't do anything that a `SELECT` statement from `information_schema` doesn't do, so something like this should work.
  • ```sql
  • SELECT
  • column_name
  • FROM
  • information_schema.columns
  • WHERE
  • table_schema = 'public'
  • AND
  • table_name = 'auth_user'
  • ORDER BY
  • column_name ASC;
  • ```
  • Assuming that they the PostgreSQL team hasn't moved anything in the years that I've had to deal with everything else, that should at least get you close.
  • It's been a while, but the answer is "yes and no," I believe.
  • No: The describe-schema command doesn't (last I heard) allow any modification.
  • Yes: The describe-schema command *also* doesn't do anything that a `SELECT` statement from `information_schema` doesn't do, so something like this should work.
  • ```sql
  • SELECT
  • column_name
  • FROM
  • information_schema.columns
  • WHERE
  • table_schema = 'public'
  • AND
  • table_name = 'auth_user'
  • ORDER BY
  • column_name ASC;
  • ```
  • Assuming that they the PostgreSQL team hasn't moved anything in the years that I've had to deal with everything else, that should at least get you close.
  • ---
  • Another approach to get around the immutability of the [`psql`](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/app-psql.htm) meta-commands is to list the SQL queries that are executed by them, and modify the relevant parts (e.g., by adding an `ORDER BY` clause).
  • For example, here's how to list the queries behind `\d`:
  • ```
  • $ psql -E -d my_db
  • my_db=> \d auth_user
  • ```
  • or
  • ```
  • my_db=> \set ECHO_HIDDEN on
  • my_db=> \d auth_user
  • ```
  • That will also show you the metadata query. Copy and paste that query and add your own `ORDER BY` clause.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar John C‭ · 2024-05-12T21:33:56Z (about 2 months ago)
It's been a while, but the answer is "yes and no," I believe.

No:  The describe-schema command doesn't (last I heard) allow any modification.

Yes:  The describe-schema command *also* doesn't do anything that a `SELECT` statement from `information_schema` doesn't do, so something like this should work.

```sql
SELECT
  column_name
FROM
  information_schema.columns 
WHERE
  table_schema = 'public' 
AND
  table_name = 'auth_user' 
ORDER BY
  column_name ASC;
```

Assuming that they the PostgreSQL team hasn't moved anything in the years that I've had to deal with everything else, that should at least get you close.