Execute several .sql files in a single transaction using PostgreSQL and bash

Question

Say I have the files:

file1.sql
file2.sql
file3.sql

I need all three files to be executed in a single transaction. I\'m looking for a bash

Answer 1

Either use a sub-shell:

#!/bin/sh
 (echo "BEGIN;"; cat file1.sql; cat file2.sql; echo "COMMIT;") \
 | psql -U the_user the_database

#eof

or use a here-document:

#!/bin/sh
psql -U the_user the_database <

NOTE: in HERE-documents there will be no globbing, so file*sql will not be expanded. Shell-variables will be expanded, even within quotes.