{"Entry":{"collection":"psql","key":"cmd-65-64-69-74","name":"\\edit","aliases":["\\edit"],"metadata":{"aliases":["\\edit"],"category":"Query buffer and editing","content_hash":"3c092ac85129d53b1366be3ca51f60ce384462eb9632d3662937e60d7656c0c8","imported_at":"2026-09-30T00:40:44.971562+08:00","name":"\\edit","name_zh":"","slug":"cmd-65-64-69-74","summary":"If filename is specified, the file is edited; after the editor exits, the file's content is copied into the current query buffer. If no filename is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. 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Otherwise, the new contents of the query buffer are re-parsed according to the normal rules of psql , treating the whole buffer as a single line. Any complete queries are immediately executed; that is, if the query buffer contains or ends with a semicolon, everything up to that point is executed and removed from the query buffer. Whatever remains in the query buffer is redisplayed. Type semicolon or \\g to send it, or \\r to cancel it by clearing the query buffer. Treating the buffer as a single line primarily affects meta-commands: whatever is in the buffer after a meta-command will be taken as argument(s) to the meta-command, even if it spans multiple lines. (Thus you cannot make meta-command-using scripts this way. Use \\i for that.) If a line number is specified, psql will position the cursor on the specified line of the file or query buffer. Note that if a single all-digits argument is given, psql assumes it is a line number, not a file name. 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If no \u003cem class=\"replaceable\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. Or, if the current query buffer is empty, the most recently executed query is copied to a temporary file and edited in the same fashion.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you edit a file or the previous query, and you quit the editor without modifying the file, the query buffer is cleared. Otherwise, the new contents of the query buffer are re-parsed according to the normal rules of \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e, treating the whole buffer as a single line. Any complete queries are immediately executed; that is, if the query buffer contains or ends with a semicolon, everything up to that point is executed and removed from the query buffer. Whatever remains in the query buffer is redisplayed. Type semicolon or \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\g\u003c/code\u003e to send it, or \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\r\u003c/code\u003e to cancel it by clearing the query buffer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreating the buffer as a single line primarily affects meta-commands: whatever is in the buffer after a meta-command will be taken as argument(s) to the meta-command, even if it spans multiple lines. (Thus you cannot make meta-command-using scripts this way. Use \u003ccode class=\"command\"\u003e\\i\u003c/code\u003e for that.)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf a line number is specified, \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e will position the cursor on the specified line of the file or query buffer. Note that if a single all-digits argument is given, \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e assumes it is a line number, not a file name.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tip\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"title\"\u003eTip\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca class=\"xref\" href=\"/docs/18/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-ENVIRONMENT\" title=\"Environment\"\u003eEnvironment\u003c/a\u003e, below, for how to configure and customize your editor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dd\u003e\u003c/dl\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","manual_path":"app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT","modifiers":[],"related":[{"label":"\\e","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65/?v=18"},{"label":"psql command-line options and complete manual","url":"/wiki/tool/psql/?v=18"}],"release":{"channel":"stable","evidence_kind":"English manual and source declarations","label":"18.6","major":"18","manifest":{"index":"index.html","major":"18","pages":1148,"pdf":{"A4":{"built_at":"2026-09-26","bytes":15865106,"pages":3154,"sha256":"19512c405da53f9f7fcf0abba359223aa65f021be025bf3411381918f92e3190","url":"/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-A4.pdf"},"US":{"built_at":"2026-09-26","bytes":15748059,"pages":3328,"sha256":"facbe6c229e598b872d3d98bef53308f46e06746006fa4590de9a7de9dd46319","url":"/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-US.pdf"}},"release":"18.6","source_mode":"en SGML built with pinned official archive","source_sha256":"555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f","source_url":"https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2","svg_assets":3,"tree":"18"},"ref":"https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2","revision":"ee8d1a3612338fd9adf250730cb640fcc5233b5491337cc00a316a44e3a0b9f8","source_sha256":"555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f"},"sections":[],"signature":"\\e or \\edit [ filename ] [ line_number ]","sources":[{"anchor":"APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT","file":"app-psql.html","label":"18.6 English manual · app-psql.html","sha256":"fa2a1d39294b8854318e82e93f71272c645ed88150ecc2786c28902c3f32782c","url":"/docs/18/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT"}],"spellings":["\\e","\\edit"],"tables":[{"columns":[{"key":"command","label":"Command"},{"key":"modifiers","label":"Documented suffix modifiers"}],"key":"spellings","rows":[{"command":{"text":"\\e","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65/?v=18"},"modifiers":"None listed in this signature"},{"command":{"text":"\\edit","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65-64-69-74/?v=18"},"modifiers":"None listed in this signature"}],"title":"Spellings in this manual definition"}]},"ManualEvidence":{"manual_path":"app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT","release":{"channel":"stable","evidence_kind":"English manual and source declarations","label":"18.6","major":"18","manifest":{"index":"index.html","major":"18","pages":1148,"pdf":{"A4":{"built_at":"2026-09-26","bytes":15865106,"pages":3154,"sha256":"19512c405da53f9f7fcf0abba359223aa65f021be025bf3411381918f92e3190","url":"/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-A4.pdf"},"US":{"built_at":"2026-09-26","bytes":15748059,"pages":3328,"sha256":"facbe6c229e598b872d3d98bef53308f46e06746006fa4590de9a7de9dd46319","url":"/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-US.pdf"}},"release":"18.6","source_mode":"en SGML built with pinned official archive","source_sha256":"555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f","source_url":"https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2","svg_assets":3,"tree":"18"},"ref":"https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2","revision":"ee8d1a3612338fd9adf250730cb640fcc5233b5491337cc00a316a44e3a0b9f8","source_sha256":"555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f"},"sources":[{"anchor":"APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT","file":"app-psql.html","label":"18.6 English manual · app-psql.html","sha256":"fa2a1d39294b8854318e82e93f71272c645ed88150ecc2786c28902c3f32782c","url":"/docs/18/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT"}]},"MeasuredEvidence":{}},"Text":{"Collection":"psql","Key":"cmd-65-64-69-74","SourceDatabase":"center","Version":"18","Locale":"en","Title":"\\edit","Summary":"If filename is specified, the file is edited; after the editor exits, the file's content is copied into the current query buffer. If no filename is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. Or, if the current query buffer is empty, the most recently executed query is copied to a temporary file and edited in the same fashion.","BodyHTML":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cdl\u003e\u003cdt id=\"APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ccode\u003e\\e\u003c/code\u003e or \u003ccode\u003e\\edit\u003c/code\u003e \u003ccode\u003e[ \u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e ] [ \u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ccode\u003eline_number\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e ]\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf \u003cem\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e is specified, the file is edited; after the editor exits, the file\u0026#39;s content is copied into the current query buffer. If no \u003cem\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. Or, if the current query buffer is empty, the most recently executed query is copied to a temporary file and edited in the same fashion.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you edit a file or the previous query, and you quit the editor without modifying the file, the query buffer is cleared. Otherwise, the new contents of the query buffer are re-parsed according to the normal rules of \u003cspan\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e, treating the whole buffer as a single line. Any complete queries are immediately executed; that is, if the query buffer contains or ends with a semicolon, everything up to that point is executed and removed from the query buffer. Whatever remains in the query buffer is redisplayed. Type semicolon or \u003ccode\u003e\\g\u003c/code\u003e to send it, or \u003ccode\u003e\\r\u003c/code\u003e to cancel it by clearing the query buffer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreating the buffer as a single line primarily affects meta-commands: whatever is in the buffer after a meta-command will be taken as argument(s) to the meta-command, even if it spans multiple lines. (Thus you cannot make meta-command-using scripts this way. Use \u003ccode\u003e\\i\u003c/code\u003e for that.)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf a line number is specified, \u003cspan\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e will position the cursor on the specified line of the file or query buffer. Note that if a single all-digits argument is given, \u003cspan\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e assumes it is a line number, not a file name.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTip\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca href=\"/docs/18/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-ENVIRONMENT\" title=\"Environment\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eEnvironment\u003c/a\u003e, below, for how to configure and customize your editor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dd\u003e\u003c/dl\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","SourceRevision":"ee8d1a3612338fd9adf250730cb640fcc5233b5491337cc00a316a44e3a0b9f8","ContentHash":"9ae744d6dacc80387a444afafd6089a1d637828dd85f4f88c272dfa629f818e6","Payload":{"description":["If filename is specified, the file is edited; after the editor exits, the file's content is copied into the current query buffer. If no filename is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. Or, if the current query buffer is empty, the most recently executed query is copied to a temporary file and edited in the same fashion."],"manual_html":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cdl class=\"variablelist\"\u003e\u003cdt id=\"APP-PSQL-META-COMMAND-EDIT\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"term\"\u003e\u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\e\u003c/code\u003e or \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\edit\u003c/code\u003e \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e[ \u003cspan class=\"optional\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"replaceable\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e ] [ \u003cspan class=\"optional\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"replaceable\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003eline_number\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e ]\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf \u003cem class=\"replaceable\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e is specified, the file is edited; after the editor exits, the file's content is copied into the current query buffer. If no \u003cem class=\"replaceable\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003efilename\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/em\u003e is given, the current query buffer is copied to a temporary file which is then edited in the same fashion. Or, if the current query buffer is empty, the most recently executed query is copied to a temporary file and edited in the same fashion.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you edit a file or the previous query, and you quit the editor without modifying the file, the query buffer is cleared. Otherwise, the new contents of the query buffer are re-parsed according to the normal rules of \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e, treating the whole buffer as a single line. Any complete queries are immediately executed; that is, if the query buffer contains or ends with a semicolon, everything up to that point is executed and removed from the query buffer. Whatever remains in the query buffer is redisplayed. Type semicolon or \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\g\u003c/code\u003e to send it, or \u003ccode class=\"literal\"\u003e\\r\u003c/code\u003e to cancel it by clearing the query buffer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreating the buffer as a single line primarily affects meta-commands: whatever is in the buffer after a meta-command will be taken as argument(s) to the meta-command, even if it spans multiple lines. (Thus you cannot make meta-command-using scripts this way. Use \u003ccode class=\"command\"\u003e\\i\u003c/code\u003e for that.)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf a line number is specified, \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e will position the cursor on the specified line of the file or query buffer. Note that if a single all-digits argument is given, \u003cspan class=\"application\"\u003epsql\u003c/span\u003e assumes it is a line number, not a file name.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tip\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"title\"\u003eTip\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca class=\"xref\" href=\"/docs/18/app-psql.html#APP-PSQL-ENVIRONMENT\" title=\"Environment\"\u003eEnvironment\u003c/a\u003e, below, for how to configure and customize your editor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dd\u003e\u003c/dl\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","related":[{"label":"\\e","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65/?v=18"},{"label":"psql command-line options and complete manual","url":"/wiki/tool/psql/?v=18"}],"sections":[],"tables":[{"columns":[{"key":"command","label":"Command"},{"key":"modifiers","label":"Documented suffix modifiers"}],"key":"spellings","rows":[{"command":{"text":"\\e","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65/?v=18"},"modifiers":"None listed in this signature"},{"command":{"text":"\\edit","url":"/wiki/psql/cmd-65-64-69-74/?v=18"},"modifiers":"None listed in this signature"}],"title":"Spellings in this manual definition"}]}},"RequestedLocale":"zh-Hans","Fallback":true,"Versions":["10","11","12","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20"],"Locales":["en"],"Signatures":null,"Spellings":[{"Version":"18","Ordinal":0,"Command":"\\e","Signature":"\\e or \\edit [ filename ] [ line_number ]","Modifiers":[]},{"Version":"18","Ordinal":1,"Command":"\\edit","Signature":"\\e or \\edit [ filename ] [ line_number ]","Modifiers":[]}],"SQLState":null,"Evidence":null}