redhat man page for alter_database

ALTER 
DATABASE(7)						   SQL Commands 						 ALTER DATABASE(7)

NAME
       ALTER DATABASE - change a database

SYNOPSIS
       ALTER DATABASE name SET variable { TO | = } { value | DEFAULT }
       ALTER DATABASE name RESET variable

DESCRIPTION
       ALTER DATABASE is used to change the session default of a run-time configuration variable for a PostgreSQL database. Whenever a new session
       is subsequently started in that database, the specified value becomes the session default value.  The database-specific	default  overrides
       whatever setting is present in postgresql.conf or has been received from the postmaster.

       Only a superuser or the database owner can change the session defaults for a database.

   PARAMETERS
       name   The name of the database whose session defaults are to be altered.

       variable

       value  Set the session default for this database of the specified configuration variable to the given value. If value is DEFAULT or, equiv-
	      alently, RESET is used, the database-specific variable setting is removed and the system-wide default setting will be  inherited	in
	      new sessions. Use RESET ALL to clear all settings.

	      See SET [set(7)] and the Administrator's Guide for more information about allowed variable names and values.

DIAGNOSTICS
       ALTER DATABASE
	      Message returned if the alteration was successful.

       ERROR: database "dbname" does not exist
	      Error message returned if the specified database is not known to the system.

NOTES
       Using  ALTER  USER  [alter_user(7)],  it is also possible to tie a session default to a specific user rather than a database. User-specific
       settings override database-specific ones if there is a conflict.

EXAMPLES
       To disable index scans by default in the database test:

       ALTER DATABASE test SET enable_indexscan TO off;

COMPATIBILITY
       The ALTER DATABASE statement is a PostgreSQL extension.

SEE ALSO
       ALTER USER [alter_user(7)], CREATE DATABASE [create_database(l)], DROP DATABASE [drop_database(l)], SET [set(l)]

SQL - Language Statements					    2002-11-22							 ALTER DATABASE(7)