PostgreSQL – How to change default schema

“public” is PostgreSQL default scheme, i have to change it because i had migrated a new database data into another new schema call “new_public”.
Before start to change, i have to check what is current PostgreSQL default schema?

1) Command


SHOW search_path

2) Check postgresql.conf


#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# CLIENT CONNECTION DEFAULTS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
# - Statement Behavior -
 
#search_path = '"$user",public'		# schema names
#default_tablespace = ''		# a tablespace name, '' uses
					# the default
#check_function_bodies = on
#default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
#default_transaction_read_only = off

Here i show how to change Postgresql default schema.


SET search_path = new_schema

However above command is apply to current session only, next time schema will change back to public. If we want to make effect permanently, we have to change in postgresql.conf file like following.


#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# CLIENT CONNECTION DEFAULTS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
# - Statement Behavior -
 
#search_path = '"$user",public'		# schema names
search_path = '"$user",new_schema'	# NEW SCHEMA HERE
#default_tablespace = ''		# a tablespace name, '' uses
					# the default
#check_function_bodies = on
#default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
#default_transaction_read_only = off

After that just restart PostgreSQL service. Done.

7 comments on “PostgreSQL – How to change default schema

  1. The schema added must be quot qualified. Here is example

    search_path = ‘”$user”,public,”dbSys”‘ # schema names

    “dbSys” is new schema just added.

    Reply
  2. There’s no need to set this instance-wide. You can change a single user, e.g.:

    ALTER USER myuser SET search_path = scott, new_schema, public;

    Reply
  3. Dear Sir,

    Please help me in connecting as other user in Postgres sql script.

    Sutiation: I am logging in as postgress creating user and database. I would like to login as the user created in sqlscript.

    Advance Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Obrigado!
    Thank you very very much!

    You saved my night!!! =D

    Greetings from Brazil.

    Reply
  5. Hi,

    I have some different issue. I have created a Database, “DB1” which has more than 1 schema, viz, “Common”, “User” and ofcourse “public”. I have created a LoginRole also, “meUser”.

    1. Created DB1, Common, User and tables under Common/User with owner=meUser
    2. Given Privileges for all tables inside Common/User to public as well as meUser.
    3. Given Priv. and Grants for Schema Common/User to meUser
    4. Given Priv. and Grants for DB1 to meUser

    But now when I use pgAdmin3 to exe “select * from Common.myTable” I get the following error.

    ERROR: schema “Common” does not exist

    ********** Error **********

    ERROR: schema “Common” does not exist
    SQL state: 3F000

    I know I have not done something correct in Priv./Grants section because of which this error is coming. But I am not able to figure this out.

    Can you help me, in suggesting what might have gone wrong and how can I get this working?
    Atul

    Reply
    1. Postgres use lower case for all not-quoted fields on the sql so try using quotes for the schema name i.e. “Common”.table

      Hope it helps.

      Reply

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