Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Geoscience.blogYour Compass for Earth's Wonders & Outdoor Adventures
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
on January 3, 2023

Change column order in postgis 2.0

Hiking & Activities

Rearranging Columns in PostGIS 2.0: A Human’s Guide

So, you’re working with PostGIS 2.0, the spatial extension for PostgreSQL, and you need to shuffle the order of your columns around. Easy peasy, right? Well, not exactly. Unlike some databases where you can just drag and drop columns to rearrange them, PostGIS (and PostgreSQL itself) doesn’t offer a simple “reorder columns” button. Let’s dive into why that is, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

Why the Fuss About Column Order Anyway?

You might be wondering, “Why does column order even matter?” Good question! At its heart, PostgreSQL, and therefore PostGIS, sticks to the relational database model. Think of it like this: the database cares more about what data you’re asking for (the column name) than where it’s physically located in the table. It’s all about relationships and indexing, which makes finding the data super-fast, regardless of column order. So, the physical arrangement of columns? Not a big deal to the database.

No “Magic” Reorder Command? Here’s Why

The lack of a direct “ALTER COLUMN POSITION” command isn’t an accident. It’s a deliberate design choice. Adding such a feature would make the database engine way more complicated without really improving how it works. Sure, some databases offer this as a special add-on, but it’s not a standard thing in the SQL world.

Okay, So How Do I Change the Order?

Alright, enough with the “whys.” Let’s get practical. Even though there’s no one-click solution, you’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve to get those columns in the order you want.

  • The SELECT Shuffle

    This is the easiest and most common way to rearrange columns. Simply list the columns in the order you want them in your query. Boom!

    sql

    You may also like

    Field Gear Repair: Your Ultimate Guide to Fixing Tears On The Go

    Outdoor Knife Sharpening: Your Ultimate Guide to a Razor-Sharp Edge

    Don’t Get Lost: How to Care for Your Compass & Test its Accuracy

  • Disclaimer

    Our goal is to help you find the best products. When you click on a link to Amazon and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our work and allows us to continue creating honest, in-depth reviews. Thank you for your support!

    Categories

    • Climate & Climate Zones
    • Data & Analysis
    • Earth Science
    • Energy & Resources
    • Facts
    • General Knowledge & Education
    • Geology & Landform
    • Hiking & Activities
    • Historical Aspects
    • Human Impact
    • Modeling & Prediction
    • Natural Environments
    • Outdoor Gear
    • Polar & Ice Regions
    • Regional Specifics
    • Review
    • Safety & Hazards
    • Software & Programming
    • Space & Navigation
    • Storage
    • Water Bodies
    • Weather & Forecasts
    • Wildlife & Biology

    New Posts

    • Escaping Erik’s Shadow: How a Brother’s Cruelty Shaped Paul in Tangerine
    • Arena Unisexs Modern Water Transparent – Review
    • Peerage B5877M Medium Comfort Leather – Is It Worth Buying?
    • The Curious Case of Cookie on Route 66: Busting a TV Myth
    • Water Quick Dry Barefoot Sports Family – Buying Guide
    • Everest Signature Waist Pack: Your Hands-Free Adventure Companion
    • Can Koa Trees Grow in California? Bringing a Slice of Hawaii to the Golden State
    • Timberland Attleboro 0A657D Color Black – Tested and Reviewed
    • Mammut Blackfin High Hiking Trekking – Review
    • Where Do Koa Trees Grow? Discovering Hawaii’s Beloved Hardwood
    • Aeromax Jr. Astronaut Backpack: Fueling Little Imaginations (But Maybe Not for Liftoff!)
    • Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack: A Solid All-Arounder for Everyday Life
    • Ditch the Clutter: How to Hoist Your Bike to the Rafters Like a Pro
    • WZYCWB Wild Graphic Outdoor Bucket – Buying Guide

    Categories

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • Français

    Copyright Geoscience.blog 2025 | Theme by ThemeinProgress | Proudly powered by WordPress

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT