How to "reset" postgresql database?

Question

I am trying to move my django project into a production environment and in doing so I switched from using sqlite to postgres. In my development environment, whenever I made changes to my models or anything that would significantly change how the database was setup, I would literally just drag my sqlite file to the trash and just run syncdb to create a new empty one (probably bad practice). Now that I am using postgres, I am wanting to do the same thing without actually deleting the database. Basically I was wondering if there was a way to completely empty it or clear it out and then just run syncdb and start over?

I also welcome any alternative suggestions that might lead me down the right path, I'm very new to this.

Read the answer here: http://stackoverflow.com/a/21247009/548165 — catavaran, Feb 11 '15 at 04:04

ruddra · Answer 1 · 2020-10-01T08:26:22.747

8

You can use flush. Just run this command:

python manage.py flush

edited Oct 01 '20 at 08:26

answered Feb 11 '15 at 07:59

ruddra

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So I could make changes to my existing models and add new ones, and then just use the flush command and syncdb? – david Feb 11 '15 at 17:03
what is "initial data" – david Feb 11 '15 at 21:21
U won't need to use syncdb while using flush. Flush clears out the data from db but not the structure – ruddra Feb 11 '15 at 22:46
1

the link is broken – Kulasangar Oct 01 '20 at 08:17
Yes, it should work on every table regardless of any databases. – ruddra Dec 26 '20 at 08:01

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 11 '15 at 09:35

First if you have initial data in your database you can use dumbpdata command:

python manage.py dumpdata > initial_data.json

For specific app run:

python manage.py dumpdata <app_name> > initial_data.json

Second run the flush command to clean your database:

python manage.py flush

Third and last, run loaddata command to load the initial data into your database and create superuser by running createsuperuser command

python manage.py loaddata initial_data.json
python manage.py createsuperuser

What is the 'initial data' ? I am trying to remove ALL of the data, not specific app data. — david, Feb 11 '15 at 17:02

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 10 '23 at 15:14

In case flush does not work, you can drop the whole database.

Go to windows command line. If server is 'postgres' and db name is 'mydb', run:

C:\> psql -U postgres
You will see a postgres-# prompt. Next is to close connections running the following:

SELECT * FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE pg_stat_activity.datname='mydb'; SELECT pg_terminate_backend(pid) FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE datname = 'mydb';
Drop database once for all: DROP DATABASE mydb;

How to "reset" postgresql database?

3 Answers3