PostgreSQL Editor for Viewing and Editing Data

What is a PostgreSQL editor?

A PostgreSQL editor is a tool that enables database developers, administrators, and end users to write and execute SQL queries, modify PostgreSQL data, browse database structure, and manage tables in a PostgreSQL database. Typically, a database management tool offers the following options for editing data:

• Plain text editor, where you insert and modify data by writing and executing SQL queries
• Visual data editor, available in a GUI that allows you to view and modify data directly in a table without writing SQL queries

The PostgreSQL database editor offered in dbForge Studio supports both approaches to data management: an SQL coding environment and a visual data editor.

Why use a visual PostgreSQL data editor?

Compared to command-line tools or manual SQL editing, a visual PostgreSQL data editor adds speed and accuracy to database management and enables table data browsing and modification without profound knowledge of SQL. By creating a convenient GUI-based working environment, the data editor accelerates the workflows for database developers, DBAs, and analysts.

Faster work with tables and records

A visual database editor allows you to view and browse table contents immediately without writing SQL queries. In addition, you can modify data directly in place and see the results right away. In a visual data editor, you can insert and delete records in a PostgreSQL table with a couple of clicks, adjusting datasets quickly and efficiently.

Better control over manual changes

In a visual data editor, you see all the table columns side by side, browsing data in its full context. This allows you to quickly analyze related columns and cells and identify errors and anomalies. When editing data in a GUI, you can preview your changes before committing them to the database and make corrections, if necessary. Overall, a visual PostgreSQL data editor helps reduce the probability of errors and improve the data quality.

Efficiency for developer, DBA, and analytical workflows

Database users in various roles—developers, administrators, and analysts—benefit from using a visual data editor, as it can speed up their processes and ensure a higher quality of data. For developers, it is much easier to validate application data and debug issues in a GUI-based environment. DBAs can accelerate database maintenance flows with visual inspections. Analysts explore and process data with a visual tool that does not require SQL proficiency.

Viewing data

With Data Editor embedded in dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, you can view PostgreSQL table data and easily choose a layout that is convenient for you: shift from grid view to card view, or enable paginal mode and split your records into a custom number of pages.

The tool's functionality allows you to change the order of columns as well as their width by simply dragging column headers into the required place. Clicking Best Fit, you can adjust the width of one, several, or all columns to the column content. Additionally, the editor enables you to set the background and foreground colors of grid rows and cells. Another useful option of PostgreSQL Data Editor is the possibility to view table contents as text, which can be easily performed with the help of the Redirect Data to Output Window option on the SQL toolbar.

Editing data

Data, the most crucial component of any database, is prone to changes and often requires modifications. Thus, the functionality that enables editing table data is of major importance. Data Editor for PostgreSQL is a multi-functional tool that gives you the possibility to easily select, include, and exclude data in an instant. You simply need to switch to the editable mode and start making the necessary changes.

What is more, by executing the commands on the shortcut menu, you can significantly save your time setting values, adding new records, and copying data from other sources.

Besides, special indicators near the cell you are working on reflect the editing stage so that you can easily monitor your progress and keep abreast of the latest changes.

Sorting data

You can perform yet another important command in Data Editor, which is data sorting. With a right-click on the column header, you can either change or set the sorting of data in the grid to ascending or descending. Besides, the small up or down arrow on the right of the column header, also known as the sort glyph, can provide you with the right idea about the sort order of a column. Of no less importance is the possibility to assign secondary sorting as well as to clear sorting when you find it unnecessary.

Grouping data

Grouping data in dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL has been designed to eliminate any potential challenges with the help of the Data Editor functionality. Above the data grid, you can find the Group By Box area, which is the starting point for performing grouping-related operations. Simply dragging the column header to this area, you can group your data by a specific column or by multiple columns. The feature also allows you to expand or collapse a group as well as remove groupings by simply clicking the appropriate options on the shortcut menu.

Filtering data

Data Editor allows you to significantly save time when it comes to filtering data. The tool's functionality enables you to filter data by column with the Quick Filter option on the shortcut menu.

As soon as you have finished filtering, you will have one-click quick access to the filter condition parameters, which you can further edit or remove depending on your needs. The tool also provides you with the possibility to effortlessly build a new filter, change a group logical operator, add or remove filter conditions with comprehensible menu options.

Paginal mode

It might be inconvenient to work with a large number of records in your database. With the Paginal Mode feature, you can split data into separate pages and, hence, view and manage it more comfortably. You can easily configure the number of records per page and navigate through the pages by means of the corresponding buttons on the document toolbar.

Auto-search mode

Manual searching for data in a column may take too much time. Having enabled Auto-Search mode, you can select a column cell, type the first letters of the required data, and easily find the necessary data, which will be highlighted. The feature also allows you to navigate through the entries by pressing the CTRL+DOWN and CTRL+UP keys.

Card view

The Card View mode is another feature of Data Editor, which allows for viewing, editing, and printing data. This mode enables you to change your data representation in a way that each data row takes the form of a card with the caption ‘Record N’ and the corresponding number. At this, you can easily switch back to the grid view, or stay in the Card View mode and edit, sort, or filter your data as you see appropriate.

Cached updates

The functionality of dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL provides another key capability that lets you focus on the changes you want to introduce to a certain database object. When the Cached Updates mode is on, you can edit the required database object and store the updates locally on the client side. You can then apply the changes or cancel them in just one click.

Foreign key lookup

The Foreign Key Lookup feature considerably saves your time and effort when it comes to viewing data from the related tables. With the link available in the cell, you can see the data from the related table directly in Data Editor. Additionally, by clicking the down arrow button of the cell, you easily switch to the parent table data.

Who can benefit from a PostgreSQL editor?

An advanced PostgreSQL data editor can be useful across different roles because it combines database exploring and browsing, SQL development, and data editing in a single environment. A modern tool, such as dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, provides value to different database users by offering a wide variety of features.

PostgreSQL developers

For database developers, a PostgreSQL data editor becomes an essential part of their development and testing workflow, allowing them to map application code to database behavior. With a visual editor, database developers get better visibility into every stage of the application creation process:

• Application logic testing by executing SQL queries against development datasets
• Change validation after database migrations or updates
• Issue debugging by inspecting database records related to errors
• Query testing before integrating them into the application code

Database administrators

DBAs find a visual PostgreSQL editor useful in database maintenance tasks, where it helps them monitor data integrity and ensure reliable database operation. By providing both SQL coding and visual editing capabilities, the tool creates a comprehensive database administration space, supporting central DBA functions:

• Fixing data inconsistencies with visually controlled edits
• Troubleshooting by examining live data and query results
• Change validation by monitoring database behavior
• Database structure maintenance through review and analysis of schemas and relationships

Data analysts and technical teams

For analysts and other data management experts, a PostgreSQL editor represents a workspace for exploring and understanding data without writing SQL code. With its visual interface, the data editor is a fast and accessible way to read and query data for analytical purposes:

• Dataset browsing in a structured, easily readable format
• Insight generation with quick filtering, sorting, and grouping data in a table
• Anomaly detection using data validation
• Answering specific questions by executing SQL queries

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