Message-ID: <47CDB4FF.4000408@oisinglynn.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:45:51 -0500
From: Oisin Glynn <me@oisinglynn.com>
User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.12 (Windows/20080213)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: Shahaf Abileah <shahaf@redfin.com>
CC: pgsql-admin@postgresql.org, pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Documenting a DB schema
References: <082D8A131DF72A4D88C908A1AD3DEB22023B34F2@mail-1.rf.lan>
In-Reply-To: <082D8A131DF72A4D88C908A1AD3DEB22023B34F2@mail-1.rf.lan>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Shahaf Abileah wrote:
>
> I’m looking for a systematic way to document the schema for the 
> database behind our website (www.redfin.com <http://www.redfin.com/>), 
> so that the developers using this database have a better idea what all 
> the tables and columns mean and what data to expect. Any recommendations?
>
> It would be great if the documentation could be kept as close to the 
> code as possible – that way we stand a chance of keeping it up to 
> date. So, in the same way that Java docs go right there on top of the 
> class or method definitions, it would be great if I could attach my 
> comments to the table definitions. It looks like MySQL has that kind 
> of capability:
>
> create table table_with_comments(a int comment 'this is column a...');
>
> (see http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/create-table.html)
>
> However, Postgres doesn’t support the “comment” keyword. Is there an 
> alternative?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --S
>
> *Shahaf Abileah *|* Lead Software Developer *
>
> shahaf@redfin.com | tel: 206.859.2869 | fax: 877.733.3469
>
> Redfin Corporation
> 710 2nd Ave
> Suite 600
> Seattle, WA 98104
>
Its probably best to try one list and see if you get a response rather 
than sending the same message to 3 lists.
Comments are supported

CREATE TABLE follow_me_destination
(
mailbox_number character varying(10), -- Follow me users mailbox number.
destination_number character varying(32), -- Follow me phone number.
dest_id serial NOT NULL
)
WITHOUT OIDS;
ALTER TABLE follow_me_destination OWNER TO postgres;
COMMENT ON TABLE follow_me_destination IS 'Stores follow me numbers for 
system users.';
COMMENT ON COLUMN follow_me_destination.mailbox_number IS 'Follow me 
users mailbox number.';
COMMENT ON COLUMN follow_me_destination.destination_number IS 'Follow me 
phone number.';