diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/postgres.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/postgres.sgml index f629524be0..edb16127c6 100644 --- a/doc/src/sgml/postgres.sgml +++ b/doc/src/sgml/postgres.sgml @@ -38,24 +38,22 @@ break is not needed in a wider output rendering. Welcome to the PostgreSQL Tutorial. The - following few chapters are intended to give a simple introduction + tutorial is intended to give an introduction to PostgreSQL, relational database - concepts, and the SQL language to those who are new to any one of - these aspects. We only assume some general knowledge about how to - use computers. No particular Unix or programming experience is - required. This part is mainly intended to give you some hands-on - experience with important aspects of the - PostgreSQL system. It makes no attempt - to be a complete or thorough treatment of the topics it covers. + concepts, and the SQL language. We assume some general knowledge about + how to use computers and no particular Unix or programming experience is + required. This tutorial is intended to provide hands-on experience with + important aspects of the PostgreSQL system. + It makes no attempt to be a comprehensive treatment of the topics it covers. - After you have worked through this tutorial you might want to move - on to reading to gain a more formal knowledge + After you have successfully completed this tutorial you will want to + read the section to gain a better understanding of the SQL language, or for - information about developing applications for - PostgreSQL. Those who set up and - manage their own server should also read . + information about developing applications with + PostgreSQL. Those who provision and + manage their own PostgreSQL installation should also read . @@ -73,28 +71,26 @@ break is not needed in a wider output rendering. This part describes the use of the SQL language in PostgreSQL. We start with describing the general syntax of SQL, 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 - SQL commands. The rest treats several - aspects that are important for tuning a database for optimal - performance. + how to create tables, how to populate the database, and how to + query it. The middle part lists the available data types and + functions for use in SQL commands. Lastly, + we address several aspects of importance for tuning a database. - The information in this part is arranged so that a novice user can - follow it start to end to gain a full understanding of the topics + The information is arranged so that a novice user can + follow it from start to end and 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 - part is presented in a narrative fashion in topical units. - Readers looking for a complete description of a particular command - should see . + chapters individually as they choose. The information is presented + in narrative form with topical units. Readers looking for a complete + description of a particular command are encouraged to review + the . - Readers of this part should know how to connect to a - PostgreSQL database and issue + Readers should know how to connect to a + PostgreSQL database and issue SQL commands. Readers that are unfamiliar with these issues are encouraged to read first. SQL commands are typically entered @@ -125,32 +121,32 @@ break is not needed in a wider output rendering. This part covers topics that are of interest to a - PostgreSQL database administrator. This includes - installation of the software, set up and configuration of the - server, management of users and databases, and maintenance tasks. - Anyone who runs a PostgreSQL server, even for + PostgreSQL administrator. This includes + installation, configuration of the server, management of users + and databases, and maintenance tasks. Anyone running + PostgreSQL server, even for personal use, but especially in production, should be familiar - with the topics covered in this part. + with these topics. - The information in this part is arranged approximately in the - order in which a new user should read it. But the chapters are - self-contained and can be read individually as desired. The - information in this part is presented in a narrative fashion in - topical units. Readers looking for a complete description of a - particular command should see . + The information attempts to be in the order in which + a new user should read it. The chapters are self-contained and + can be read individually as desired. The information is presented + in a narrative form in topical units. Readers looking for a complete + description of a command are encouraged to review the + . The first few chapters are written so they can be understood without prerequisite knowledge, so new users who need to set - up their own server can begin their exploration with this part. - The rest of this part is about tuning and management; that material + up their own server can begin their exploration. The rest of this + part is about tuning and management; that material assumes that the reader is familiar with the general use of the PostgreSQL database system. Readers are - encouraged to look at and for additional information. + encouraged review the and parts for additional information. @@ -182,13 +178,13 @@ break is not needed in a wider output rendering. This part describes the client programming interfaces distributed with PostgreSQL. Each of these chapters can be - read independently. Note that there are many other programming - interfaces for client programs that are distributed separately and + read independently. There are many external programming + interfaces for client programs that are distributed separately. They contain their own documentation ( lists some of the more popular ones). Readers of this part should be - familiar with using SQL commands to manipulate + familiar with using SQL to manipulate and query the database (see ) and of course - with the programming language that the interface uses. + with the programming language of their choice. @@ -206,15 +202,15 @@ break is not needed in a wider output rendering. This part is about extending the server functionality with user-defined functions, data types, triggers, etc. These are - advanced topics which should probably be approached only after all + advanced topics which should be approached only after all the other user documentation about PostgreSQL has been understood. Later chapters in this part describe the server-side programming languages available in the PostgreSQL distribution as well as - general issues concerning server-side programming languages. It + general issues concerning server-side programming. It is essential to read at least the earlier sections of (covering functions) before diving into the - material about server-side programming languages. + material about server-side programming.