I can't get query output from postgres database in command line?

Question

I'm just trying to run a few queries on a database, however, nothing seems to appear when I run my queries. I log into my database system using:

psql -h HOSTNAME -U USERNAME -d DATABASENAME

That works fine, and I'm onto the database system. However, I get no output in my queries. I typed:

SELECT title AND department 
FROM jointnames 
WHERE artist = 'John Poit';

I typed that directly after logging in, so that was the whole statement, I don't know if you're meant to include something else along with it to generate the output?

It just comes up blank? Can anyone instruct me on the right way to query a database from a command line?

String constants need to be put in single quotes: WHERE artist = 'john poit'; postgresql.org/docs/current/static/… Also: string comparison is case sensitive 'John Poit' is something different then 'john poit' — user330315
– user330315, Commented Feb 26, 2016 at 13:38
Thanks, I just tried that and got the error "argument of AND must be type boolean, not type character varying". — darkwing
– darkwing, Commented Feb 26, 2016 at 13:42
The AND in the SELECT list would cause that error. Column names should just be separated by commas. — Tom H
– Tom H, Commented Feb 26, 2016 at 13:48

kometen · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-26 13:59:12Z

1

If you want to get title and department from the table jointnames you separate the fields with a comma.

SELECT title, department 
FROM jointnames 
WHERE artist = 'John Poit';

The AND keyword is used select values based on more than one value, like:

SELECT title, department 
FROM jointnames 
WHERE artist = 'John Poit'
AND city = 'London';

answered Feb 26, 2016 at 13:59

kometen

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4 Comments

Tom H Over a year ago

AND is also a logical operator in PostgreSQL, which is why it didn't just complain of a syntax error with it being in the SELECT list.

darkwing Over a year ago

Thanks guys, I'm just getting used to postgreSQL and little things like this are a big help

kometen Over a year ago

@TomH Saw you provided an answer as a comment before I posted an answer. Pardon, not my intention.

Tom H Over a year ago

No worries :) I'm glad that you put everything all together.

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