A Guide to GUI Tools Supporting PostgreSQL

Open Source / Free Software

pgAdmin III

http://www.pgadmin.org/

Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.

Admin

pgAdmin III is THE Open Source management tool for your PostgreSQL databases. Features full Unicode support, fast, multithreaded query and data editting tools and support for all PostgreSQL object types.

Free Administration Centre for the PostgreSQL database. Includes a graphical administration interface, an SQL query tool, a procedural code editor and much more. pgAdmin III is designed to answer the needs of most users, from writing simple SQL queries to developing complex databases. The graphical interface supports all PostgreSQL features and makes administration easy. Available in more than 30 languages and for several operating systems, including MS Windows, GNU/Linux and FreeBSD. (4.12.2005)

PGAccess

http://www.pgaccess.org

Most platforms

ERD

The original PostgreSQL GUI, with an MS Access-style database browser, written in Tcl/Tk. Allows browsing, adding and editing tables, views, functions, sequencese, databases, and users, as well as graphically-assisted queries. A form and report designer are also under development by the PGAccess team, who could use help from some more Tcl/Tk coders and doc writers. (JMB 11.2002)

phpPgAdmin

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phppgadmin

browser-based, requires webserver

Admin

A clone of the ever-popular phpMyAdmin, enhanced for PostgreSQL. Supports browsing and modification of most types of PostgreSQL database objects, plus execution of ad-hoc queries. Maintained by (who else?) the phpPgAdmin team. (JMB 11.2002)

OpenOffice.org

http://www.openoffice.org

Windows, Linux, Solaris

ERD

Open Source office suite with limited database browsing through "Data Sources" interface. Can create moderately complex reports and simple data entry forms. Currently requires ODBC or UnixODBC?, but a "native" PostgreSQL driver is under development. Under development by the OpenOffice.org DBA team (dba.openoffice.org) who could use some new members. (JMB 11.2002)

The Red Hat Database Graphical Tools, RHDB Administrator and Visual Explain

http://sources.redhat.com/rhdb

Linux

Admin

Red Hat has stood by their word and open-sourced their database tools which ship with Red Hat Database for the benefit of the PostgreSQL community. I haven't used these, a review would be nice. Developed by Red Hat, Inc. (JMB 11.2002)

Xpg: Java PostgreSQL client

http://www.kazak.ws/xpg

Most platforms

Admin

Java-based PostgreSQL database administrator, with access to tables and data entry, query interface and ability to export query results to HTML reports. Developed by Soluciones Kazak, in Spanish, but available in English as well. (JMB 11.2002)

Mergeant

http://www.gnome-db.org

Linux, Unix

Admin

Database administration/user tool for GNOME, based on libgda/libgnomedb, which are a complete database-independent access layer for UNIX systems, with support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, Sybase, MS SQL Server, Oracle, Interbase/Firebird, MS Access files, xBase.

TOra, an Oracle tool with some PostgreSQL support

http://www.globecom.se/tora

Linux & Windows

Admin

An Oracle database administration interface, with limited ability to browse PostgreSQL databases (tables, views, and functions only). I'm told that if you have the Oracle libraries, Tora's sophisticated function editor will work for PostgreSQL as well. Developed by Henrik Johnson. (JMB 11.2002)

KNoda

http://www.knoda.org

FreeBSD & Linux

Admin

knoda is a database frontend for KDE. It is based on hk_classes and is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

PGInhaler

http://pginhaler.ifrance.com/pginhaler/

Admin

It's a free Java based PostgreSQL GUI. Haven't used it yet, but worth knowing about. (J.C.)

Commercial:

Lightning Admin for PostgreSQL

http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com/lightning_admin

Windows, other platforms via WINE

Admin



Lightning Admin is one of the best GUI admin tools available and sports a modern tabbed MDI interface and is the least expensive full featured GUI admin tool on the market. Compare to Navicat or EMS and save big. Current price is $19.99 per user.

Borland Kylix

http://www.borland.com/kylix

Linux

ERD

driver: http://www.vitavoom.com/Products/pgExpress_Driver/index.html

The third most popular IDE for Linux, according to a recent Linux Journal poll. Focuses on interface-building for database applications, with some support for browsing database objects (I think). PostgreSQL native drivers are available free from Vita Voom Software. (JMB 11.2002)

DBOne

http://www.dbone.info

Windows

Admin

DBOne is a shareware Database Administration Tool for PostgreSQL and Oracle, MSSQL, Sybase, DB2, SAPDB, Interbase/Firbird, MySQL.

DBTools Manager

http://www.dbtools.com.br

Windows

Admin

Freeware, available for PostgreSQL and MySQL, allows managing all aspects of the database: db, table, triggers, functions, etc. Includes import/export wizards to migrate data and structure to/from other database engines. Developed by DBTools Software.

PgManager

http://www.ems-hitech.com/pgmanager

Windows, Linux version just released

Admin

Basically a commercial, more powerful version of PGAdmin II or PGAccess. Adds support for trigger and constraint editing, metadata logging, and query monitoring. Also includes multiple-format data import/export tools, which are also available on their own for Linux. Developed by EMS Hitech. (JMB 4.2003).

Mammoth pgManage

http://www.commandprompt.com/

Windows, Red Hat Linux, Mac OS X

Admin

To be released 5/2003, this is the professional-grade management console for Mammoth PostgreSQL. It's supposed to have the same capabilities as EMS HiTech's product, but as it hasn't been released yet, who knows? Developed by Command Prompt Inc. (JMB 4.2003).

Rekall

http://www.thekompany.com/products/rekall

Linux

ERD

Designed by The Kompany as a Linux-based competitor to MS Access, this simple interface and database interface-builder is unfortunately designed for MySQL and has some problems with PostgreSQL. Was still buggy in May 2002, but may be improved by now. Supports limited browsing of database objects, creation of data entry forms and reports. (JMB 11.2002)

Data Architect

http://www.thekompany.com/products/dataarchitect

Linux

ERD

I'm trying DataArchitect 2 from theKompany now for 6 month. Highly recommended if you want an easy to use DB-Design Tool, but generated SQL-Scripts needs some rework. PostgreSQL is supported, you easily can create Stored Procedures, Foreign Keys, Views and Triggers. (Bernd, 1.2003)

SyBase Power Designer

http://www.sybase.com/products/enterprisemodeling/powerdesigner

Admin

Sybase PowerDesigner is power tool with built in PostgreSQL support. It support tables, views, triggers, constraints and referential integrity. More advanced than Data Architect.

Microsoft Access

http://office.microsoft.com

Windows + ODBC only

ERD, Admin

Yes, you can use MS Access as a PostgreSQL database interface. Supports data access to PostgreSQL tables and views; many ODBC-based limitations and errors. I don't need to tell anyone what MS Access' other capabilities are. (JMB 11.2002)

eRWin

http://www.ca.com/products/alm/erwin.htm

Windows

ERD

Apparently a high-end tool by Computer Associates with PostgreSQL support as a downloadable addon for some version(s). Haven't tried this. JC

DeZign for Databases

http://www.datanamic.com

Windows

ERD

DeZign is a database development tool using an entity relationship diagram. It visually supports the lay out of the entities and relations and automatically generates SQL schemas for most leading databases including PostgreSQL.

PGExplorer

http://www.PGExplorer.com

Windows (Shareware)

Admin

NOTE this software is not maintained and has not had a new release in many years. Because of it's age it does not support schemas on PGSQL versions 7.3 and up.

Postgres Explorer is a full-featured GUI postgres development tool. Features include a tree view of your databases, and database objects. You can reverse engineer SQL statements from your database objects , modify the SQL and execute it. Wizards will guide you through the process to generate SQL for various objects and statements. The latest release includes a Graphical Select Query Designer (anonymous, 4.2003)

Case Studio 2

http://www.casestudio.com

Windows

ERD

I just downloaded the trial version, so far it looks real promising and claims to support PostgreSQL. Handles reverse engineering of existing databases, and has a real nice interface for setting up tables, relationships etc. You can get a lite or full version. The description from the website... Professional database modeling tool for various databases. CASE Studio 2 includes following key features:

LITE version features + Reverse Engineering from various database systems Version Manager Data Flow Diagrams Definition of user defined variables Large COM interface Users, User groups and User permission support and many more.

pgEdit

http://pgedit.com

Macintosh/Windows

pgEdit is a high performance SQL editor and development environment designed specifically for PostgreSQL relational databases. pgEdit features include SQL syntax coloring, direct source code execution, PHP support, integrated documentation, and extensive customizable editing facilities.

pgEdit uses psql, the interactive terminal application included with every PostgreSQL installation. This makes it easy to develop with pgEdit and then transfer your work to any PostgreSQL installation for maintenance and production tasks.

pgEdit is a native application for both Macintosh and Windows. It does not use Java or require installation of external libraries. You have the option of using the version of psql included with pgEdit or a different version installed anywhere on your hard drive.