pg_sample - extract a small, sample dataset from a larger PostgreSQL database while maintaining referential integrity.
pg_sample [ option... ] [ dbname ]
pg_sample is a utility for exporting a small, sample dataset from a larger PostgreSQL database. The output and command-line options closely resemble the pg_dump backup utility (although only the plain-text format is supported).
The sample database produced includes all tables from the original, maintains referential integrity, and supports circular dependencies.
To build an actual instance of the sample database, the output of this script can be piped to the psql utility. For example, assuming we have an existing PostgreSQL database named "mydb", a sample database could be constructed with:
createdb sampledb
pg_sample mydb | psql sampledb
- PostgreSQL 8.1 or later
- pg_dump should be in your search path (in order to dump the schema)
- Perl DBI and DBD::Pg (>= 2.0) modules
dbname
Specifies the database to sample. If not specified, uses the
environment variable PGDATABASE, if defined; otherwise, uses
the username of the user executing the script.
-a
--data-only
Output only the data, not the schema (data definitions).
--help
Output detailed options and exit.
-E encoding
--encoding=encoding
Use the specified character set encoding. If not specified, uses the
environment variable PGCLIENTENCODING, if defined; otherwise, uses
the encoding of the database.
-f file
--file=file
Send output to the specified file. If omitted, standard output is used.
--force
Drop the sample schema if it exists.
--keep
Don't delete the sample schema when the script finishes.
--limit=limit
As a numeric value, specifies the default number of rows to copy from
each table (defaults to 100). Note that sample tables may end up with
significantly more rows in order to satisfy foreign key constraints.
If the value is a string, it is interpreted as a pattern/rule pair to
apply to matching tables. Examples:
# include all rows from the users table
--limit="users = *"
# include 1,000 rows from users table
--limit="users = 1000"
# include 10% of the total rows from users table
--limit="users = 10%"
# include all users where deactivated column is false
--limit="users = NOT deactivated"
# include all rows from all tables in the forums schema
--limit="forums.* = *"
# include 5% of total rows from each table in log schema
# and 50% to the rest of tables
--limit="log.* = 5%, * = 50%"
The limit option may be specified multiple times. Multiple pattern/rule
pairs can also be specified as a single comma-separated value. For example:
# include all rows from the ads table; otherwise default to 300 rows
--limit="ads=*,*=300"
Rules are applied in order with the first match taking precedence.
--random
Randomize the rows initially selected from each table. May significantly
increase the running time of the script.
--schema=name
The schema name to use for the sample database (defaults to _pg_sample).
--trace
Turn on Perl DBI tracing. See the DBI module documentation for details.
--verbose
Output status information to standard error.
The following options control the database connection parameters.
-h host
--host=host
The host name to connect to. Defaults to the PGHOST environment
variable if not specified.
-p port
--port=port
The database port to connect to. Defaults to the PGPORT environment
variable, if set; otherwise, the default port is used.
-U username
--username=username
User name to connect as.
-W password
-password=password
Password to connect with.
This code is released under the Artistic License. See perlartistic.
createdb(1), pg_dump(1), psql(1)
Maurice Aubrey maurice.aubrey@gmail.com
