postgresql/doc
Dean Rasheed d363d42bb9 Use MINVALUE/MAXVALUE instead of UNBOUNDED for range partition bounds.
Previously, UNBOUNDED meant no lower bound when used in the FROM list,
and no upper bound when used in the TO list, which was OK for
single-column range partitioning, but problematic with multiple
columns. For example, an upper bound of (10.0, UNBOUNDED) would not be
collocated with a lower bound of (10.0, UNBOUNDED), thus making it
difficult or impossible to define contiguous multi-column range
partitions in some cases.

Fix this by using MINVALUE and MAXVALUE instead of UNBOUNDED to
represent a partition column that is unbounded below or above
respectively. This syntax removes any ambiguity, and ensures that if
one partition's lower bound equals another partition's upper bound,
then the partitions are contiguous.

Also drop the constraint prohibiting finite values after an unbounded
column, and just document the fact that any values after MINVALUE or
MAXVALUE are ignored. Previously it was necessary to repeat UNBOUNDED
multiple times, which was needlessly verbose.

Note: Forces a post-PG 10 beta2 initdb.

Report by Amul Sul, original patch by Amit Langote with some
additional hacking by me.

Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/CAAJ_b947mowpLdxL3jo3YLKngRjrq9+Ej4ymduQTfYR+8=YAYQ@mail.gmail.com
2017-07-21 09:20:47 +01:00
..
src Use MINVALUE/MAXVALUE instead of UNBOUNDED for range partition bounds. 2017-07-21 09:20:47 +01:00
KNOWN_BUGS Remove extra newlines at end and beginning of files, add missing newlines 2010-08-19 05:57:36 +00:00
MISSING_FEATURES Remove extra newlines at end and beginning of files, add missing newlines 2010-08-19 05:57:36 +00:00
Makefile Remove maintainer-check target, fold into normal build 2013-10-10 20:11:56 -04:00
TODO Change documentation references to PG website to use https: not http: 2017-05-20 21:50:47 -04:00
bug.template Stamp 10beta2. 2017-07-10 16:26:20 -04:00