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$Header: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/ref/show.sgml,v 1.22 2002/10/13 16:55:05 tgl Exp $
PostgreSQL documentation
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<refentry id="SQL-SHOW">
 <refmeta>
  <refentrytitle id="SQL-SHOW-TITLE">SHOW</refentrytitle>
  <refmiscinfo>SQL - Language Statements</refmiscinfo>
 </refmeta>
 <refnamediv>
  <refname>SHOW</refname>
  <refpurpose>show the value of a run-time parameter</refpurpose>
 </refnamediv>
 <refsynopsisdiv>
  <synopsis>
SHOW <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable>
  </synopsis>
  <synopsis>
SHOW ALL
  </synopsis>

  <refsect2 id="R2-SQL-SHOW-1">
   <title>Inputs</title>

   <para>
    <variablelist>
     <varlistentry>
      <term><replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable></term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        The name of a run-time parameter. See
	<xref linkend="sql-set" endterm="sql-set-title">
        for a list.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
     <varlistentry>
      <term>ALL</term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        Show all current session parameters.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
   </para>
  </refsect2>

 </refsynopsisdiv>

 <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-SHOW-1">
  <title>Description</title>
  <para>
   <command>SHOW</command> will display the current setting of a
   run-time parameter. These variables can be set using the
   <command>SET</command> statement, by editing the
   <filename>postgresql.conf</filename>, through the
   <envar>PGOPTIONS</envar> environmental variable, or through a
   command-line flag when starting the
   <application>postmaster</application>.
  </para>

  <para>
   Even with <literal>autocommit</> set to <literal>off</>, <command>SHOW</>
   does not start a new transaction block. See the
   <literal>autocommit</> section of the <citetitle>Administrator's
   Guide</citetitle> for details.
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1>
  <title>Diagnostics</title>

   <para>
    <variablelist>
     <varlistentry>
      <term><computeroutput>ERROR: Option '<replaceable>name</replaceable>'
	  is not recognized</computeroutput></term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
	Message returned if <replaceable>name</replaceable> does
	not stand for an existing parameter.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
   </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-SHOW-2">
  <title>Examples</title>
  <para>
   Show the current <literal>DateStyle</literal> setting:

<programlisting>
SHOW DateStyle;
               DateStyle
---------------------------------------
 ISO with US (NonEuropean) conventions
(1 row)
</programlisting>
  </para>

  <para>
   Show the current genetic optimizer (<literal>geqo</literal>) setting:
<programlisting>
SHOW GEQO;
 geqo
------
 on
(1 row)
</programlisting>
  </para>

  <para>
   Show all settings:
<programlisting>
SHOW ALL;
             name              |                setting
-------------------------------+---------------------------------------
 australian_timezones          | off
 authentication_timeout        | 60
 checkpoint_segments           | 3
    .
    .
    .
 wal_debug                     | 0
 wal_sync_method               | fdatasync
(94 rows)
</programlisting>
  </para>

 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-SHOW-3">
  <title>Compatibility</title>

  <para>
   The <command>SHOW</command> command is a
   <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> extension.
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1>
  <title>See Also</title>

  <para>
    The function <function>current_setting</function> produces equivalent
    output. See <citetitle>Miscellaneous Functions</citetitle> in the
    <citetitle>PostgreSQL User's Guide</citetitle>.
  </para>
 </refsect1>
</refentry>

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