How to use PostgreSQL client applications

This article describes how to use PostgreSQL client applications to access and manage your PostgreSQL databases.

PostgreSQL client applications

There are numerous GUI (graphical user interface) client applications that you can use to manage PostgreSQL databases. These client applications enable you to view databases, run SQL queries, and more.

One of the most popular and widely-used PostgreSQL client applications is pgAdmin III. This application is free to download and use, and there are versions available for several operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Using pgAdmin III

To download pgAdmin III, visit http://www.pgadmin.org/download. Follow the instructions for your computer's operating system to install the application.

After you have downloaded and installed pgAdmin III, you can use it to manage your PostgreSQL databases. To do this, follow these steps:

1. You must first set up a remote PostgreSQL connection, either by using a SSH tunnel, or by using a direct connection to the A2 Hosting server.
   For detailed information about how to set up a remote PostgreSQL connection, please see this article.
2. After you have established a remote connection to the server, start pgAdmin III.
3. On the File menu, click Add Server.
4. On the Properties tab, in the Name text box, type a name for the server connection. The name can be whatever you want.
5. In the Host text box, type localhost.
6. Confirm that the Port text box value is set to 5432.
7. In the Maintenance DB text box, type the name of the PostgreSQL database that you want to access.
8. In the Username text box, type the username for the PostgreSQL database.
9. In the Password text box, type the username's password.
   To have pgAdmin III remember the password, select the Store password check box.
10. Click OK. pgAdmin III connects to the server.
11. In the Object browser pane, click the + icon next to the connection name you specified in step 4. The tree expands to show Databases, Tablespaces, Group Roles, and Login Roles.
12. Click Databases, and then click the name of the database you specified in step 7.
    • To access the PostgreSQL console for the database, on the Plugins menu, click PSQL Console.
    • To run the SQL query tool, on the Tools menu, click Query tool.

More Information

To view the online documentation for pgAdmin III, please visit http://www.pgadmin.org/docs.