[SQL] Problems invoking psql. Help please.

[Hugh Esco]

One more note:  when I first got the error:

env: /usr/lib/postgresql/bin/readpgenv: Permission denied

I looked and determined that no such file existed, so I created an empty (one character) file by that name with a shell level echo command and set the permissions to match those of every other file in the directory. What should that file really contain?

-- Hugh

Hey folks:

I am able to consistently start and stop the postgreSQL server and to access it across our office network with pgAdmin II. I have had no luck invoking the psql command line prompt, from where I can enter queries and start to surmount the learning curve from background with mySQL to my next step with postgreSQL. Can anyone help me figure out, please, what this is about and what I can do about it?

I've copied the shell dialogue below.
Everything in: /usr/lib/postgresql/bin is owned by root:root.
Who should these files be owned by?
The database engine is invoked as postgres,
which is the user which created the databse.
Do I harm anything if I chown postgres:postgres
for everything in that directory?

Will this get me past this error and to a psql prompt?

I am operating on a Debian Woody Platform,
with postgreSQL 7.2.1 and ODBC driver 7.1.9.

All help is appreciated. Thanks.

-- Hugh Esco

hesco@biko:~$ su postgres
Password:
postgres@biko:/home/hesco$ locate psql
/usr/bin/psql
/usr/lib/odbc/libodbcpsqlS.so
/usr/share/man/man1/psql.1.gz
/var/home/hesco/.psql_history
postgres@biko:/home/hesco$ ./psql
sh: ./psql: No such file or directory
postgres@biko:/home/hesco$ psql
env: /usr/lib/postgresql/bin/readpgenv: Permission denied
No database specified
postgres@biko:/home/hesco$ psql ggp_test
env: /usr/lib/postgresql/bin/readpgenv: Permission denied
Could not execv /usr/lib/postgresql/bin/psql
postgres@biko:/home/hesco$

---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 6: Have you searched our list archives?

http://archives.postgresql.org