<!-- $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/dblink.sgml,v 1.9 2009/08/05 16:11:07 joe Exp $ -->

<sect1 id="dblink">
 <title>dblink</title>

 <indexterm zone="dblink">
  <primary>dblink</primary>
 </indexterm>

 <para>
  <filename>dblink</> is a module which supports connections to
  other <productname>PostgreSQL</> databases from within a database
  session.
 </para>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-CONNECT">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_connect</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_connect</refname>
   <refpurpose>opens a persistent connection to a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_connect(text connstr) returns text
    dblink_connect(text connname, text connstr) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_connect()</> establishes a connection to a remote
    <productname>PostgreSQL</> database.  The server and database to
    be contacted are identified through a standard <application>libpq</>
    connection string.  Optionally, a name can be assigned to the
    connection.  Multiple named connections can be open at once, but
    only one unnamed connection is permitted at a time.  The connection
    will persist until closed or until the database session is ended.
   </para>

   <para>
    The connection string may also be the name of an existing foreign
    server.  It is recommended to use
    the <function>postgresql_fdw_validator</function> when defining
    the corresponding foreign-data wrapper.  See the example below, as
    well as the following:
    <simplelist type="inline">
     <member><xref linkend="sql-createforeigndatawrapper" endterm="sql-createforeigndatawrapper-title"></member>
     <member><xref linkend="sql-createserver" endterm="sql-createserver-title"></member>
     <member><xref linkend="sql-createusermapping" endterm="sql-createusermapping-title"></member>
    </simplelist>
   </para>

  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name to use for this connection; if omitted, an unnamed
       connection is opened, replacing any existing unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>connstr</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       <application>libpq</>-style connection info string, for example
       <literal>hostaddr=127.0.0.1 port=5432 dbname=mydb user=postgres
       password=mypasswd</>.
       For details see <function>PQconnectdb</> in
       <xref linkend="libpq-connect">.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns status, which is always <literal>OK</> (since any error
    causes the function to throw an error instead of returning).
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    Only superusers may use <function>dblink_connect</> to create
    non-password-authenticated connections.  If non-superusers need this
    capability, use <function>dblink_connect_u</> instead.
   </para>

   <para>
    It is unwise to choose connection names that contain equal signs,
    as this opens a risk of confusion with connection info strings
    in other <filename>dblink</> functions.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 select dblink_connect('dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select dblink_connect('myconn', 'dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 -- FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER functionality
 -- Note: local connection must require password authentication for this to work properly
 --       Otherwise, you will receive the following error from dblink_connect():
 --       ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 --       ERROR:  password is required
 --       DETAIL:  Non-superuser cannot connect if the server does not request a password.
 --       HINT:  Target server's authentication method must be changed.
 CREATE USER dblink_regression_test WITH PASSWORD 'secret';
 CREATE FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER postgresql VALIDATOR postgresql_fdw_validator;
 CREATE SERVER fdtest FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER postgresql OPTIONS (hostaddr '127.0.0.1', dbname 'contrib_regression');

 CREATE USER MAPPING FOR dblink_regression_test SERVER fdtest OPTIONS (user 'dblink_regression_test', password 'secret');
 GRANT USAGE ON FOREIGN SERVER fdtest TO dblink_regression_test;
 GRANT SELECT ON TABLE foo TO dblink_regression_test;

 \set ORIGINAL_USER :USER
 \c - dblink_regression_test
 SELECT dblink_connect('myconn', 'fdtest');
  dblink_connect 
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 SELECT * FROM dblink('myconn','SELECT * FROM foo') AS t(a int, b text, c text[]);
  a  | b |       c       
 ----+---+---------------
   0 | a | {a0,b0,c0}
   1 | b | {a1,b1,c1}
   2 | c | {a2,b2,c2}
   3 | d | {a3,b3,c3}
   4 | e | {a4,b4,c4}
   5 | f | {a5,b5,c5}
   6 | g | {a6,b6,c6}
   7 | h | {a7,b7,c7}
   8 | i | {a8,b8,c8}
   9 | j | {a9,b9,c9}
  10 | k | {a10,b10,c10}
 (11 rows)

 \c - :ORIGINAL_USER
 REVOKE USAGE ON FOREIGN SERVER fdtest FROM dblink_regression_test;
 REVOKE SELECT ON TABLE foo FROM  dblink_regression_test;
 DROP USER MAPPING FOR dblink_regression_test SERVER fdtest;
 DROP USER dblink_regression_test;
 DROP SERVER fdtest;
 DROP FOREIGN DATA WRAPPER postgresql;
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-CONNECT-U">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_connect_u</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_connect_u</refname>
   <refpurpose>opens a persistent connection to a remote database, insecurely</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_connect_u(text connstr) returns text
    dblink_connect_u(text connname, text connstr) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_connect_u()</> is identical to
    <function>dblink_connect()</>, except that it will allow non-superusers
    to connect using any authentication method.
   </para>

   <para>
    If the remote server selects an authentication method that does not
    involve a password, then impersonation and subsequent escalation of
    privileges can occur, because the session will appear to have
    originated from the user as which the local <productname>PostgreSQL</>
    server runs.  Also, even if the remote server does demand a password,
    it is possible for the password to be supplied from the server
    environment, such as a <filename>~/.pgpass</> file belonging to the
    server's user.  This opens not only a risk of impersonation, but the
    possibility of exposing a password to an untrustworthy remote server.
    Therefore, <function>dblink_connect_u()</> is initially
    installed with all privileges revoked from <literal>PUBLIC</>,
    making it un-callable except by superusers.  In some situations
    it may be appropriate to grant <literal>EXECUTE</> permission for
    <function>dblink_connect_u()</> to specific users who are considered
    trustworthy, but this should be done with care.  It is also recommended
    that any <filename>~/.pgpass</> file belonging to the server's user
    <emphasis>not</> contain any records specifying a wildcard host name.
   </para>

   <para>
    For further details see <function>dblink_connect()</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-DISCONNECT">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_disconnect</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_disconnect</refname>
   <refpurpose>closes a persistent connection to a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_disconnect() returns text
    dblink_disconnect(text connname) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_disconnect()</> closes a connection previously opened
    by <function>dblink_connect()</>.  The form with no arguments closes
    an unnamed connection.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name of a named connection to be closed.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns status, which is always <literal>OK</> (since any error
    causes the function to throw an error instead of returning).
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_disconnect();
  dblink_disconnect
 -------------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select dblink_disconnect('myconn');
  dblink_disconnect
 -------------------
  OK
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink</refname>
   <refpurpose>executes a query in a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink(text connname, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
    dblink(text connstr, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
    dblink(text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink</> executes a query (usually a <command>SELECT</>,
    but it can be any SQL statement that returns rows) in a remote database.
   </para>

   <para>
    When two <type>text</> arguments are given, the first one is first
    looked up as a persistent connection's name; if found, the command
    is executed on that connection.  If not found, the first argument
    is treated as a connection info string as for <function>dblink_connect</>,
    and the indicated connection is made just for the duration of this command.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use; omit this parameter to use the
       unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>connstr</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       A connection info string, as previously described for
       <function>dblink_connect</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>sql</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The SQL query that you wish to execute in the remote database,
       for example <literal>select * from foo</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function returns no rows.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    The function returns the row(s) produced by the query.  Since
    <function>dblink</> can be used with any query, it is declared
    to return <type>record</>, rather than specifying any particular
    set of columns.  This means that you must specify the expected
    set of columns in the calling query &mdash; otherwise
    <productname>PostgreSQL</> would not know what to expect.
    Here is an example:

<programlisting>
SELECT *
    FROM dblink('dbname=mydb', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc')
      AS t1(proname name, prosrc text)
    WHERE proname LIKE 'bytea%';
</programlisting>

    The <quote>alias</> part of the <literal>FROM</> clause must
    specify the column names and types that the function will return.
    (Specifying column names in an alias is actually standard SQL
    syntax, but specifying column types is a <productname>PostgreSQL</>
    extension.)  This allows the system to understand what
    <literal>*</> should expand to, and what <structname>proname</>
    in the <literal>WHERE</> clause refers to, in advance of trying
    to execute the function.  At runtime, an error will be thrown
    if the actual query result from the remote database does not
    have the same number of columns shown in the <literal>FROM</> clause.
    The column names need not match, however, and <function>dblink</>
    does not insist on exact type matches either.  It will succeed
    so long as the returned data strings are valid input for the
    column type declared in the <literal>FROM</> clause.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink</> fetches the entire remote query result before
    returning any of it to the local system.  If the query is expected
    to return a large number of rows, it's better to open it as a cursor
    with <function>dblink_open</> and then fetch a manageable number
    of rows at a time.
   </para>

   <para>
    A convenient way to use <function>dblink</> with predetermined
    queries is to create a view.
    This allows the column type information to be buried in the view,
    instead of having to spell it out in every query.  For example,

    <programlisting>
    create view myremote_pg_proc as
      select *
        from dblink('dbname=postgres', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc')
        as t1(proname name, prosrc text);

    select * from myremote_pg_proc where proname like 'bytea%';
    </programlisting>
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 select * from dblink('dbname=postgres', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc')
  as t1(proname name, prosrc text) where proname like 'bytea%';
   proname   |   prosrc
 ------------+------------
  byteacat   | byteacat
  byteaeq    | byteaeq
  bytealt    | bytealt
  byteale    | byteale
  byteagt    | byteagt
  byteage    | byteage
  byteane    | byteane
  byteacmp   | byteacmp
  bytealike  | bytealike
  byteanlike | byteanlike
  byteain    | byteain
  byteaout   | byteaout
 (12 rows)

 select dblink_connect('dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select * from dblink('select proname, prosrc from pg_proc')
  as t1(proname name, prosrc text) where proname like 'bytea%';
   proname   |   prosrc
 ------------+------------
  byteacat   | byteacat
  byteaeq    | byteaeq
  bytealt    | bytealt
  byteale    | byteale
  byteagt    | byteagt
  byteage    | byteage
  byteane    | byteane
  byteacmp   | byteacmp
  bytealike  | bytealike
  byteanlike | byteanlike
  byteain    | byteain
  byteaout   | byteaout
 (12 rows)

 select dblink_connect('myconn', 'dbname=regression');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select * from dblink('myconn', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc')
  as t1(proname name, prosrc text) where proname like 'bytea%';
   proname   |   prosrc
 ------------+------------
  bytearecv  | bytearecv
  byteasend  | byteasend
  byteale    | byteale
  byteagt    | byteagt
  byteage    | byteage
  byteane    | byteane
  byteacmp   | byteacmp
  bytealike  | bytealike
  byteanlike | byteanlike
  byteacat   | byteacat
  byteaeq    | byteaeq
  bytealt    | bytealt
  byteain    | byteain
  byteaout   | byteaout
 (14 rows)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-EXEC">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_exec</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_exec</refname>
   <refpurpose>executes a command in a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_exec(text connname, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
    dblink_exec(text connstr, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
    dblink_exec(text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_exec</> executes a command (that is, any SQL statement
    that doesn't return rows) in a remote database.
   </para>

   <para>
    When two <type>text</> arguments are given, the first one is first
    looked up as a persistent connection's name; if found, the command
    is executed on that connection.  If not found, the first argument
    is treated as a connection info string as for <function>dblink_connect</>,
    and the indicated connection is made just for the duration of this command.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use; omit this parameter to use the
       unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>connstr</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       A connection info string, as previously described for
       <function>dblink_connect</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>sql</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The SQL command that you wish to execute in the remote database,
       for example
       <literal>insert into foo values(0,'a','{"a0","b0","c0"}')</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function's return value is set to <literal>ERROR</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns status, either the command's status string or <literal>ERROR</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 select dblink_connect('dbname=dblink_test_slave');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select dblink_exec('insert into foo values(21,''z'',''{"a0","b0","c0"}'');');
    dblink_exec
 -----------------
  INSERT 943366 1
 (1 row)

 select dblink_connect('myconn', 'dbname=regression');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 select dblink_exec('myconn', 'insert into foo values(21,''z'',''{"a0","b0","c0"}'');');
    dblink_exec
 ------------------
  INSERT 6432584 1
 (1 row)

 select dblink_exec('myconn', 'insert into pg_class values (''foo'')',false);
 NOTICE:  sql error
 DETAIL:  ERROR:  null value in column "relnamespace" violates not-null constraint

  dblink_exec
 -------------
  ERROR
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-OPEN">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_open</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_open</refname>
   <refpurpose>opens a cursor in a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_open(text cursorname, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
    dblink_open(text connname, text cursorname, text sql [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_open()</> opens a cursor in a remote database.
    The cursor can subsequently be manipulated with
    <function>dblink_fetch()</> and <function>dblink_close()</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use; omit this parameter to use the
       unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>cursorname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name to assign to this cursor.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>sql</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The <command>SELECT</> statement that you wish to execute in the remote
       database, for example <literal>select * from pg_class</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function's return value is set to <literal>ERROR</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns status, either <literal>OK</> or <literal>ERROR</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    Since a cursor can only persist within a transaction,
    <function>dblink_open</> starts an explicit transaction block
    (<command>BEGIN</>) on the remote side, if the remote side was
    not already within a transaction.  This transaction will be
    closed again when the matching <function>dblink_close</> is
    executed.  Note that if
    you use <function>dblink_exec</> to change data between
    <function>dblink_open</> and <function>dblink_close</>,
    and then an error occurs or you use <function>dblink_disconnect</> before
    <function>dblink_close</>, your change <emphasis>will be
    lost</> because the transaction will be aborted.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_connect('dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 test=# select dblink_open('foo', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc');
  dblink_open
 -------------
  OK
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-FETCH">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_fetch</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_fetch</refname>
   <refpurpose>returns rows from an open cursor in a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_fetch(text cursorname, int howmany [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
    dblink_fetch(text connname, text cursorname, int howmany [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_fetch</> fetches rows from a cursor previously
    established by <function>dblink_open</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use; omit this parameter to use the
       unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>cursorname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name of the cursor to fetch from.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>howmany</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The maximum number of rows to retrieve. The next <parameter>howmany</>
       rows are fetched, starting at the current cursor position, moving
       forward. Once the cursor has reached its end, no more rows are produced.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function returns no rows.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    The function returns the row(s) fetched from the cursor.  To use this
    function, you will need to specify the expected set of columns,
    as previously discussed for <function>dblink</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    On a mismatch between the number of return columns specified in the
    <literal>FROM</> clause, and the actual number of columns returned by the
    remote cursor, an error will be thrown. In this event, the remote cursor
    is still advanced by as many rows as it would have been if the error had
    not occurred.  The same is true for any other error occurring in the local
    query after the remote <command>FETCH</> has been done.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_connect('dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 test=# select dblink_open('foo', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc where proname like ''bytea%''');
  dblink_open
 -------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 test=# select * from dblink_fetch('foo', 5) as (funcname name, source text);
  funcname |  source
 ----------+----------
  byteacat | byteacat
  byteacmp | byteacmp
  byteaeq  | byteaeq
  byteage  | byteage
  byteagt  | byteagt
 (5 rows)

 test=# select * from dblink_fetch('foo', 5) as (funcname name, source text);
  funcname  |  source
 -----------+-----------
  byteain   | byteain
  byteale   | byteale
  bytealike | bytealike
  bytealt   | bytealt
  byteane   | byteane
 (5 rows)

 test=# select * from dblink_fetch('foo', 5) as (funcname name, source text);
   funcname  |   source
 ------------+------------
  byteanlike | byteanlike
  byteaout   | byteaout
 (2 rows)

 test=# select * from dblink_fetch('foo', 5) as (funcname name, source text);
  funcname | source
 ----------+--------
 (0 rows)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-CLOSE">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_close</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_close</refname>
   <refpurpose>closes a cursor in a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_close(text cursorname [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
    dblink_close(text connname, text cursorname [, bool fail_on_error]) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_close</> closes a cursor previously opened with
    <function>dblink_open</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use; omit this parameter to use the
       unnamed connection.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>cursorname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name of the cursor to close.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function's return value is set to <literal>ERROR</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns status, either <literal>OK</> or <literal>ERROR</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    If <function>dblink_open</> started an explicit transaction block,
    and this is the last remaining open cursor in this connection,
    <function>dblink_close</> will issue the matching <command>COMMIT</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_connect('dbname=postgres');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 test=# select dblink_open('foo', 'select proname, prosrc from pg_proc');
  dblink_open
 -------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 test=# select dblink_close('foo');
  dblink_close
 --------------
  OK
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-GET-CONNECTIONS">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_get_connections</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_get_connections</refname>
   <refpurpose>returns the names of all open named dblink connections</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_get_connections() returns text[]
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_get_connections</> returns an array of the names
    of all open named <filename>dblink</> connections.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>Returns a text array of connection names, or NULL if none.</para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
   SELECT dblink_get_connections();
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-ERROR-MESSAGE">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_error_message</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_error_message</refname>
   <refpurpose>gets last error message on the named connection</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_error_message(text connname) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_error_message</> fetches the most recent remote
    error message for a given connection.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns last error message, or an empty string if there has been
    no error in this connection.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
    SELECT dblink_error_message('dtest1');
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-SEND-QUERY">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_send_query</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_send_query</refname>
   <refpurpose>sends an async query to a remote database</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_send_query(text connname, text sql) returns int
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_send_query</> sends a query to be executed
    asynchronously, that is, without immediately waiting for the result.
    There must not be an async query already in progress on the
    connection.
   </para>

   <para>
    After successfully dispatching an async query, completion status
    can be checked with <function>dblink_is_busy</>, and the results
    are ultimately collected with <function>dblink_get_result</>.
    It is also possible to attempt to cancel an active async query
    using <function>dblink_cancel_query</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>sql</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The SQL statement that you wish to execute in the remote database,
       for example <literal>select * from pg_class</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns 1 if the query was successfully dispatched, 0 otherwise.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
    SELECT dblink_send_query('dtest1', 'SELECT * FROM foo WHERE f1 &lt; 3');
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-IS-BUSY">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_is_busy</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_is_busy</refname>
   <refpurpose>checks if connection is busy with an async query</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_is_busy(text connname) returns int
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_is_busy</> tests whether an async query is in progress.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to check.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns 1 if connection is busy, 0 if it is not busy.
    If this function returns 0, it is guaranteed that
    <function>dblink_get_result</> will not block.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
    SELECT dblink_is_busy('dtest1');
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-GET-NOTIFY">
  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_get_notify</refname>
   <refpurpose>retrieve async notifications on a connection</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_get_notify() returns setof (notify_name text, be_pid int, extra text)
    dblink_get_notify(text connname) returns setof (notify_name text, be_pid int, extra text)
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_get_notify</> retrieves notifications on either 
    the unnamed connection, or on a named connection if specified.
    To receive notifications via dblink, <function>LISTEN</> must 
    first be issued, using <function>dblink_exec</>.
    For details see <xref linkend="sql-listen"> and <xref linkend="sql-notify">.
   </para>

  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The name of a named connection to get notifications on.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>
    <para>Returns setof (notify_name text, be_pid int, extra text), or an empty set if none.</para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
test=# SELECT dblink_exec('LISTEN virtual');
 dblink_exec 
-------------
 LISTEN
(1 row)

test=# SELECT * FROM dblink_get_notify();
 notify_name | be_pid | extra
-------------+--------+-------
(0 rows)

test=# NOTIFY virtual;
NOTIFY

SELECT * FROM dblink_get_notify();
 notify_name | be_pid | extra
-------------+--------+-------
 virtual     |   1229 |
(1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-GET-RESULT">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_get_result</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_get_result</refname>
   <refpurpose>gets an async query result</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_get_result(text connname [, bool fail_on_error]) returns setof record
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_get_result</> collects the results of an
    asynchronous query previously sent with <function>dblink_send_query</>.
    If the query is not already completed, <function>dblink_get_result</>
    will wait until it is.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>fail_on_error</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If true (the default when omitted) then an error thrown on the
       remote side of the connection causes an error to also be thrown
       locally. If false, the remote error is locally reported as a NOTICE,
       and the function returns no rows.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    For an async query (that is, a SQL statement returning rows),
    the function returns the row(s) produced by the query.  To use this
    function, you will need to specify the expected set of columns,
    as previously discussed for <function>dblink</>.
   </para>

   <para>
    For an async command (that is, a SQL statement not returning rows),
    the function returns a single row with a single text column containing
    the command's status string.  It is still necessary to specify that
    the result will have a single text column in the calling <literal>FROM</>
    clause.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>

   <para>
    This function <emphasis>must</> be called if
    <function>dblink_send_query</> returned 1.
    It must be called once for each query
    sent, and one additional time to obtain an empty set result,
    before the connection can be used again.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 contrib_regression=#   SELECT dblink_connect('dtest1', 'dbname=contrib_regression');
  dblink_connect
 ----------------
  OK
 (1 row)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from
 contrib_regression-#    dblink_send_query('dtest1', 'select * from foo where f1 &lt; 3') as t1;
  t1
 ----
   1
 (1 row)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from dblink_get_result('dtest1') as t1(f1 int, f2 text, f3 text[]);
  f1 | f2 |     f3
 ----+----+------------
   0 | a  | {a0,b0,c0}
   1 | b  | {a1,b1,c1}
   2 | c  | {a2,b2,c2}
 (3 rows)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from dblink_get_result('dtest1') as t1(f1 int, f2 text, f3 text[]);
  f1 | f2 | f3
 ----+----+----
 (0 rows)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from
    dblink_send_query('dtest1', 'select * from foo where f1 &lt; 3; select * from foo where f1 &gt; 6') as t1;
  t1
 ----
   1
 (1 row)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from dblink_get_result('dtest1') as t1(f1 int, f2 text, f3 text[]);
  f1 | f2 |     f3
 ----+----+------------
   0 | a  | {a0,b0,c0}
   1 | b  | {a1,b1,c1}
   2 | c  | {a2,b2,c2}
 (3 rows)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from dblink_get_result('dtest1') as t1(f1 int, f2 text, f3 text[]);
  f1 | f2 |      f3
 ----+----+---------------
   7 | h  | {a7,b7,c7}
   8 | i  | {a8,b8,c8}
   9 | j  | {a9,b9,c9}
  10 | k  | {a10,b10,c10}
 (4 rows)

 contrib_regression=#   SELECT * from dblink_get_result('dtest1') as t1(f1 int, f2 text, f3 text[]);
  f1 | f2 | f3
 ----+----+----
 (0 rows)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-CANCEL-QUERY">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_cancel_query</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_cancel_query</refname>
   <refpurpose>cancels any active query on the named connection</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_cancel_query(text connname) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_cancel_query</> attempts to cancel any query that
    is in progress on the named connection.  Note that this is not
    certain to succeed (since, for example, the remote query might
    already have finished).  A cancel request simply improves the
    odds that the query will fail soon.  You must still complete the
    normal query protocol, for example by calling
    <function>dblink_get_result</>.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>conname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of the connection to use.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns <literal>OK</> if the cancel request has been sent, or
    the text of an error message on failure.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
    SELECT dblink_cancel_query('dtest1');
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-GET-PKEY">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_get_pkey</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_get_pkey</refname>
   <refpurpose>returns the positions and field names of a relation's
    primary key fields
   </refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_get_pkey(text relname) returns setof dblink_pkey_results
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_get_pkey</> provides information about the primary
    key of a relation in the local database.  This is sometimes useful
    in generating queries to be sent to remote databases.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>relname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of a local relation, for example <literal>foo</> or
       <literal>myschema.mytab</>.  Include double quotes if the
       name is mixed-case or contains special characters, for
       example <literal>"FooBar"</>; without quotes, the string
       will be folded to lower case.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>
    Returns one row for each primary key field, or no rows if the relation
    has no primary key.  The result rowtype is defined as

    <programlisting>
CREATE TYPE dblink_pkey_results AS (position int, colname text);
    </programlisting>
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
test=# create table foobar(f1 int, f2 int, f3 int,
test(#   primary key(f1,f2,f3));
CREATE TABLE
test=# select * from dblink_get_pkey('foobar');
 position | colname
----------+---------
        1 | f1
        2 | f2
        3 | f3
(3 rows)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-BUILD-SQL-INSERT">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_build_sql_insert</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_build_sql_insert</refname>
   <refpurpose>
    builds an INSERT statement using a local tuple, replacing the
    primary key field values with alternative supplied values
   </refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_build_sql_insert(text relname,
                            int2vector primary_key_attnums,
                            int2 num_primary_key_atts,
                            text[] src_pk_att_vals_array,
                            text[] tgt_pk_att_vals_array) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_build_sql_insert</> can be useful in doing selective
    replication of a local table to a remote database.  It selects a row
    from the local table based on primary key, and then builds a SQL
    <command>INSERT</> command that will duplicate that row, but with
    the primary key values replaced by the values in the last argument.
    (To make an exact copy of the row, just specify the same values for
    the last two arguments.)
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>relname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of a local relation, for example <literal>foo</> or
       <literal>myschema.mytab</>.  Include double quotes if the
       name is mixed-case or contains special characters, for
       example <literal>"FooBar"</>; without quotes, the string
       will be folded to lower case.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>primary_key_attnums</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Attribute numbers (1-based) of the primary key fields,
       for example <literal>1 2</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>num_primary_key_atts</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The number of primary key fields.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>src_pk_att_vals_array</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Values of the primary key fields to be used to look up the
       local tuple.  Each field is represented in text form.
       An error is thrown if there is no local row with these
       primary key values.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>tgt_pk_att_vals_array</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Values of the primary key fields to be placed in the resulting
       <command>INSERT</> command.  Each field is represented in text form.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>Returns the requested SQL statement as text.</para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_build_sql_insert('foo', '1 2', 2, '{"1", "a"}', '{"1", "b''a"}');
              dblink_build_sql_insert
 --------------------------------------------------
  INSERT INTO foo(f1,f2,f3) VALUES('1','b''a','1')
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-BUILD-SQL-DELETE">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_build_sql_delete</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_build_sql_delete</refname>
   <refpurpose>builds a DELETE statement using supplied values for primary
    key field values
   </refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_build_sql_delete(text relname,
                            int2vector primary_key_attnums,
                            int2 num_primary_key_atts,
                            text[] tgt_pk_att_vals_array) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_build_sql_delete</> can be useful in doing selective
    replication of a local table to a remote database.  It builds a SQL
    <command>DELETE</> command that will delete the row with the given
    primary key values.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>relname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of a local relation, for example <literal>foo</> or
       <literal>myschema.mytab</>.  Include double quotes if the
       name is mixed-case or contains special characters, for
       example <literal>"FooBar"</>; without quotes, the string
       will be folded to lower case.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>primary_key_attnums</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Attribute numbers (1-based) of the primary key fields,
       for example <literal>1 2</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>num_primary_key_atts</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The number of primary key fields.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>tgt_pk_att_vals_array</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Values of the primary key fields to be used in the resulting
       <command>DELETE</> command.  Each field is represented in text form.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>Returns the requested SQL statement as text.</para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_build_sql_delete('"MyFoo"', '1 2', 2, '{"1", "b"}');
            dblink_build_sql_delete
 ---------------------------------------------
  DELETE FROM "MyFoo" WHERE f1='1' AND f2='b'
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

 <refentry id="CONTRIB-DBLINK-BUILD-SQL-UPDATE">
  <refmeta>
   <refentrytitle>dblink_build_sql_update</refentrytitle>
  </refmeta>

  <refnamediv>
   <refname>dblink_build_sql_update</refname>
   <refpurpose>builds an UPDATE statement using a local tuple, replacing
    the primary key field values with alternative supplied values
   </refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
   <synopsis>
    dblink_build_sql_update(text relname,
                            int2vector primary_key_attnums,
                            int2 num_primary_key_atts,
                            text[] src_pk_att_vals_array,
                            text[] tgt_pk_att_vals_array) returns text
   </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Description</title>

   <para>
    <function>dblink_build_sql_update</> can be useful in doing selective
    replication of a local table to a remote database.  It selects a row
    from the local table based on primary key, and then builds a SQL
    <command>UPDATE</> command that will duplicate that row, but with
    the primary key values replaced by the values in the last argument.
    (To make an exact copy of the row, just specify the same values for
    the last two arguments.)  The <command>UPDATE</> command always assigns
    all fields of the row &mdash; the main difference between this and
    <function>dblink_build_sql_insert</> is that it's assumed that
    the target row already exists in the remote table.
   </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Arguments</title>

   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>relname</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Name of a local relation, for example <literal>foo</> or
       <literal>myschema.mytab</>.  Include double quotes if the
       name is mixed-case or contains special characters, for
       example <literal>"FooBar"</>; without quotes, the string
       will be folded to lower case.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>primary_key_attnums</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Attribute numbers (1-based) of the primary key fields,
       for example <literal>1 2</>.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>num_primary_key_atts</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The number of primary key fields.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>src_pk_att_vals_array</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Values of the primary key fields to be used to look up the
       local tuple.  Each field is represented in text form.
       An error is thrown if there is no local row with these
       primary key values.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>

    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>tgt_pk_att_vals_array</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       Values of the primary key fields to be placed in the resulting
       <command>UPDATE</> command.  Each field is represented in text form.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Return Value</title>

   <para>Returns the requested SQL statement as text.</para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1>
   <title>Example</title>

   <programlisting>
 test=# select dblink_build_sql_update('foo', '1 2', 2, '{"1", "a"}', '{"1", "b"}');
                    dblink_build_sql_update
 -------------------------------------------------------------
  UPDATE foo SET f1='1',f2='b',f3='1' WHERE f1='1' AND f2='b'
 (1 row)
   </programlisting>
  </refsect1>
 </refentry>

</sect1>
