Alternate output format for psql showing one column per line with column name

Alternate Output Format for psql - A Guide for Easy Viewing 📃

Are you struggling with viewing PostgreSQL query results in a readable format? 😫 Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this guide, we'll explore a simple solution to display query results with one column per line, including the column name. 📊

The Dilemma 😕

Imagine you have a PostgreSQL table with wide columns, let's say c1 through cN. When you execute a query that selects all columns, the results might wrap multiple times, making it difficult to read and analyze the data. 😓

Here's an example to illustrate the problem:

SELECT * FROM your_table;

The output might look something like this:

c1 |    c2   | ... |   cN
---------------------------------
 value | value | ... | value

The Solution 💡

To overcome this challenge and view each column of each row on a separate line, we can leverage the formatting capabilities of psql, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal. 🚀

Open your terminal and enter the psql command with the -x or --expanded option:

psql -x -c "SELECT * FROM your_table;"

This will format the output in an expanded mode, one column per line, and display the column name along with its corresponding value. Isn't that neat? 😎

Now, the output will be structured like this:

c1: value
 c2: value
 ...
 cN: value

Additionally, psql provides customization options to make the output even more legible. For instance, you can set a delimiter between each row using the -F or --field-separator option. Let's say you want to insert a line of hyphens (----) between each row:

psql -x -F'----' -c "SELECT * FROM your_table;"

The new output will be:

c1: value
 c2: value
 ...
 cN: value
 ----
 c1: value
 ...

A Word of Caution ⚠️

It's important to note that the solutions presented here are specific to psql and might not work with other PostgreSQL clients or tools. However, if you're working on a server where you prefer not to install additional software, psql is a reliable and versatile option. 🙌

Conclusion and Call-to-Action 📣

Say goodbye to tangled query results! 🙅‍♂️ With the -x option in psql, you now have a handy way to view your PostgreSQL query results with one column per line and the column name displayed. 🎉

Next time you find yourself struggling to decipher wrapped query results, remember this guide and give psql's expanded mode a try! Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. 👇

Happy querying! 💪