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<book id="user">

<!-- Title information -->

 <title>PostgreSQL &version; User's Guide</title>

 <bookinfo>
  <corpauthor>The PostgreSQL Global Development Group</corpauthor>
  &legal;
 </bookinfo>

 <preface id="user-preface">
  <title>Preface</title>

  &intro;
  &history;

  <sect1 id="user-preface-thisbook">
   <title>What's In This Book</title>

   <para>
    This book describes the use of the <acronym>SQL</acronym> language
    in <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>.  We start with
    describing the general syntax of <acronym>SQL</acronym>, then
    explain how to create the structures to hold data, how to populate
    the database, and how to query it.  The middle part lists the
    available data types and functions for use in
    <acronym>SQL</acronym> data commands.  The rest of the book treats
    several aspects that are important for tuning a database for
    optimal performance.
   </para>

   <para>
    The information in this book is arranged so that a novice user can
    follow it start to end to gain a full understanding of the topics
    without having to refer forward too many times.  The chapters are
    intended to be self-contained, so that advanced users can read the
    chapters individually as they choose.  The information in this
    book is presented in a narrative fashion in topical units.
    Readers looking for a complete description of a particular command
    should look into the &cite-reference;.
   </para>

   <para>
    Readers of this book should know how to connect to a <productname>PostgreSQL</>
    database and issue <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands.  Readers that are unfamiliar with
    these issues are encouraged to read the &cite-tutorial; first.  <acronym>SQL</acronym>
    commands are typically entered using the <productname>PostgreSQL</> interactive
    terminal <application>psql</application>, but other programs that
    have similar functionality can be used as well.
   </para>

   <para>
    This book covers <productname>PostgreSQL &version;</productname>
    only.  For information on other versions, please read the
    documentation that accompanies that release.
   </para>
  </sect1>

  &info;
  &notation;
  &problems;
 </preface>
 
 &syntax;
 &ddl;
 &dml;
 &queries;
 &datatype;
 &func;
 &typeconv;
 &indices;
 &mvcc;
 &perform;

 <!-- appendices -->

 &datetime;
 &keywords;
 &features;

 &biblio;

 <![%single-book;[
 &bookindex;
 ]]>

</book>

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