==================================================================
| NOTE: A dump-and-restore is required to update your databases |
| if you wish to update postgresql-server. If your |
| application examines the system catalogs, additional |
| changes will be required due to the introduction of |
| schemas in 7.3; for more information, see: |
| |
| http://www.ca.postgresql.org/docs/momjian/upgrade_tips_7.3 |
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Major changes from version 7.2.3 include:
Schemas
Schemas allow users to create objects in separate namespaces,
so two people or applications can have tables with the same
name. There is also a public schema for shared tables.
Table/index creation can be restricted by removing permissions
on the public schema.
Drop Column
PostgreSQL now supports the ALTER TABLE ... DROP COLUMN
functionality.
Table Functions
Functions returning multiple rows and/or multiple columns are
now much easier to use than before. You can call such a "table
function" in the SELECT FROM clause, treating its output like a
table. Also, PL/pgSQL functions can now return sets.
Prepared Queries
PostgreSQL now supports prepared queries, for improved
performance.
Dependency Tracking
PostgreSQL now records object dependencies, which allows
improvements in many areas. "DROP" statements now take either
CASCADE or RESTRICT to control whether dependent objects are
also dropped.
Privileges
Functions and procedural languages now have privileges, and
functions can be defined to run with the privileges of their
creator.
Internationalization
Both multibyte and locale support are now always enabled.
Logging
A variety of logging options have been enhanced.
Interfaces
A large number of interfaces have been moved to
http://gborg.postgresql.org where they can be developed and
released independently.
Functions/Identifiers
By default, functions can now take up to 32 parameters, and
identifiers can be up to 63 bytes long. Also, OPAQUE is now
deprecated: there are specific "pseudo-datatypes" to represent
each of the former meanings of OPAQUE in function argument and
result types.
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