Clarify deleting comments and security labels in synopsis

Started by Dagfinn Ilmari Mannsåkerabout 3 years ago5 messageshackers
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Hi Hackers,

A user on IRC was confused about how to delete a security label using
the `SECURITY LABLEL ON … IS …` command, and looking at the docs I can
see why.

The synopsis just says `IS 'label'`, which implies that it can only be a
string. It's not until you read the description for `label` that you
see "or `NULL` to drop the security label." I propose making the
synopsis say `IS { 'label' | NULL }` to make it clear that it can be
NULL as well. The same applies to `COMMENT ON … IS …`, which I've also
changed similarly in the attached.

- ilmari

Attachments:

0001-Clarify-that-COMMENT-and-SECURITY-LABEL-can-be-set-t.patchtext/x-diffDownload+2-3
#2Tom Lane
tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us
In reply to: Dagfinn Ilmari Mannsåker (#1)
Re: Clarify deleting comments and security labels in synopsis

=?utf-8?Q?Dagfinn_Ilmari_Manns=C3=A5ker?= <ilmari@ilmari.org> writes:

A user on IRC was confused about how to delete a security label using
the `SECURITY LABLEL ON … IS …` command, and looking at the docs I can
see why.

The synopsis just says `IS 'label'`, which implies that it can only be a
string. It's not until you read the description for `label` that you
see "or `NULL` to drop the security label." I propose making the
synopsis say `IS { 'label' | NULL }` to make it clear that it can be
NULL as well. The same applies to `COMMENT ON … IS …`, which I've also
changed similarly in the attached.

Agreed; as-is, the syntax summary is not just confusing but outright
wrong.

I think we could go further and split the entry under Parameters
to match:

'text'
The new comment (must be a simple string literal,
not an expression).

NULL
Write NULL to drop the comment.

regards, tom lane

In reply to: Tom Lane (#2)
Re: Clarify deleting comments and security labels in synopsis

Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> writes:

=?utf-8?Q?Dagfinn_Ilmari_Manns=C3=A5ker?= <ilmari@ilmari.org> writes:

A user on IRC was confused about how to delete a security label using
the `SECURITY LABLEL ON … IS …` command, and looking at the docs I can
see why.

The synopsis just says `IS 'label'`, which implies that it can only be a
string. It's not until you read the description for `label` that you
see "or `NULL` to drop the security label." I propose making the
synopsis say `IS { 'label' | NULL }` to make it clear that it can be
NULL as well. The same applies to `COMMENT ON … IS …`, which I've also
changed similarly in the attached.

Agreed; as-is, the syntax summary is not just confusing but outright
wrong.

I think we could go further and split the entry under Parameters
to match:

'text'
The new comment (must be a simple string literal,
not an expression).

NULL
Write NULL to drop the comment.

Makes sense. Something like the attached v2?

regards, tom lane

- ilmari

Attachments:

v2-0001-Clarify-that-COMMENT-and-SECURITY-LABEL-can-be-se.patchtext/x-diffDownload+24-9
#4Tom Lane
tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us
In reply to: Dagfinn Ilmari Mannsåker (#3)
Re: Clarify deleting comments and security labels in synopsis

=?utf-8?Q?Dagfinn_Ilmari_Manns=C3=A5ker?= <ilmari@ilmari.org> writes:

Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> writes:

Agreed; as-is, the syntax summary is not just confusing but outright
wrong.

I think we could go further and split the entry under Parameters
to match:

Makes sense. Something like the attached v2?

WFM, will push.

regards, tom lane

In reply to: Tom Lane (#4)
Re: Clarify deleting comments and security labels in synopsis

Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> writes:

=?utf-8?Q?Dagfinn_Ilmari_Manns=C3=A5ker?= <ilmari@ilmari.org> writes:

Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> writes:

Agreed; as-is, the syntax summary is not just confusing but outright
wrong.

I think we could go further and split the entry under Parameters
to match:

Makes sense. Something like the attached v2?

WFM, will push.

Thanks!

regards, tom lane

- ilmari