<para>
<application>pg_dumpall</application> is a utility for writing out
(<quote>dumping</quote>) all <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> databases
- of a cluster into an SQL script file or an archive. The output contains
- <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands that can be used as input to <xref
- linkend="app-psql"/> to restore the databases. It does this by
+ of a cluster into an SQL script file or an archive. It does this by
calling <xref linkend="app-pgdump"/> for each database in the cluster.
+ The output contains <acronym>SQL</acronym> commands that can be used
+ as input to <xref linkend="app-psql"/> or <xref linkend="app-pgrestore"/>
+ to restore the databases.
<application>pg_dumpall</application> also dumps global objects
that are common to all databases, namely database roles, tablespaces,
and privilege grants for configuration parameters.
(<application>pg_dump</application> does not save these objects.)
+ The only parts of a database cluster's state that
+ are <emphasis>not</emphasis> included in the default output
+ of <application>pg_dumpall</application> are the configuration files
+ and any database parameter setting changes made with
+ <xref linkend="sql-altersystem"/>.
</para>
<para>
- Since <application>pg_dumpall</application> reads tables from all
- databases you will most likely have to connect as a database
- superuser in order to produce a complete dump. Also you will need
- superuser privileges to execute the saved script in order to be
- allowed to add roles and create databases.
+ If the output format is a
+ plain text SQL script, it will be written to the standard output. Use the
+ <option>-f</option>/<option>--file</option> option or shell operators to
+ redirect it into a file.
</para>
<para>
- Plain text SQL scripts will be written to the standard output. Use the
- <option>-f</option>/<option>--file</option> option or shell operators to
- redirect it into a file.
+ If another output format is selected, the archive will be placed in a
+ directory named using the <option>-f</option>/<option>--file</option>
+ option, which is required in this case.
</para>
<para>
- Archives in other formats will be placed in a directory named using the
- <option>-f</option>/<option>--file</option>, which is required in this case.
+ Since <application>pg_dumpall</application> reads tables from all
+ databases you will most likely have to connect as a database
+ superuser in order to produce a complete dump. Also you will need
+ superuser privileges to execute the saved script in order to be
+ allowed to add roles and create databases.
</para>
<para>