PostgreSQL 9.6.9 Documentation
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# F.1. adminpack

`adminpack` provides a number of support functions which pgAdmin and other administration and management tools can use to provide additional functionality, such as remote management of server log files. Use of all these functions is restricted to superusers.

The functions shown in Table F-1 provide write access to files on the machine hosting the server. (See also the functions in Table 9-86, which provide read-only access.) Only files within the database cluster directory can be accessed, but either a relative or absolute path is allowable.

Table F-1. `adminpack` Functions

Name | Return Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
`pg_catalog.pg_file_write(filename text, data text, append boolean)` | `bigint` | Write, or append to, a text file
`pg_catalog.pg_file_rename(oldname text, newname text [, archivename text])` | `boolean` | Rename a file
`pg_catalog.pg_file_unlink(filename text)` | `boolean` | Remove a file
`pg_catalog.pg_logdir_ls()` | `setof record` | List the log files in the `log_directory` directory

`pg_file_write` writes the specified `data` into the file named by `filename`. If `append` is false, the file must not already exist. If `append` is true, the file can already exist, and will be appended to if so. Returns the number of bytes written.

`pg_file_rename` renames a file. If `archivename` is omitted or NULL, it simply renames `oldname` to `newname` (which must not already exist). If `archivename` is provided, it first renames `newname` to `archivename` (which must not already exist), and then renames `oldname` to `newname`. In event of failure of the second rename step, it will try to rename `archivename` back to `newname` before reporting the error. Returns true on success, false if the source file(s) are not present or not writable; other cases throw errors.

`pg_file_unlink` removes the specified file. Returns true on success, false if the specified file is not present or the `unlink()` call fails; other cases throw errors.

`pg_logdir_ls` returns the start timestamps and path names of all the log files in the log_directory directory. The log_filename parameter must have its default setting (`postgresql-%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S.log`) to use this function.

The functions shown in Table F-2 are deprecated and should not be used in new applications; instead use those shown in Table 9-77 and Table 9-86. These functions are provided in `adminpack` only for compatibility with old versions of pgAdmin.

Table F-2. Deprecated `adminpack` Functions

Name | Return Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
`pg_catalog.pg_file_read(filename text, offset bigint, nbytes bigint)` | `text` | Alternate name for `pg_read_file()`
`pg_catalog.pg_file_length(filename text)` | `bigint` | Same as `size` column returned by `pg_stat_file()`
`pg_catalog.pg_logfile_rotate()` | `integer` | Alternate name for `pg_rotate_logfile()`, but note that it returns integer 0 or 1 rather than boolean

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