From: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
To: Alex <cdalxndr@yahoo.com>
cc: Tatsuo Ishii <ishii@sraoss.co.jp>, pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Invalid idle_in_transaction_session_timeout data type
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Comments: In-reply-to Alex <cdalxndr@yahoo.com>
	message dated "Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:23:29 +0000"
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Alex <cdalxndr@yahoo.com> writes:
> In my opinion, it would be more clear if "Numeric with Unit" would be
> specified on that property documentation, so that I can search more about
> what that means (eventually a link pointing to details).
> I saw "(integer)" so I assumed `show idle_in_transaction_session_timeout `
> will return an integer.

This complaint isn't totally without merit.  I wonder whether there is
any value in listing a unit-ized GUC's default unit as part of the
type info, so that we'd have entries like

	work_mem  (integer, kilobytes)

	statement_timeout  (integer, milliseconds)

That'd both provide some concrete info about which unit applies,
and cue unwary users that there might be more to it than just a
number.

I'm not sure whether this could replace the existing boilerplate
phrases about "If this value is specified without units, it is taken
as kilobytes", but it's sure more compact.

			regards, tom lane