PostgreSQL & Based Languages

Welcome to Snowflake SnowConvert for PostgreSQL & Based Languages. Let us be your guide on the road to a successful migration.

What is SnowConvert for PostgreSQL & Based Languages?

SnowConvert is a software that understands PostgreSQL & Based Languages scripts and converts this source code into functionally equivalent Snowflake code.

The based languages are:

• Greenplum

• Netezza

Conversion Types

Specifically, SnowConvert for PostgreSQL & Based Languages performs the following conversions:

PostgreSQL & Based Languages to Snowflake SQL

SnowConvert understands the PostgreSQL & Based Languages source code and converts the Data Definition Language (DDL), Data Manipulation Language (DML), and functions in the source code to the corresponding SQL in the target: Snowflake.

Sample code

PostgreSQL basic input code:

IN -> PostgreSQL_01.sql

CREATE TABLE films (
    code        char(5) CONSTRAINT firstkey PRIMARY KEY,
    title       varchar(40) NOT NULL,
    did         integer NOT NULL,
    date_prod   date,
    kind        varchar(10),
    len         interval hour to minute
);

Snowflake SQL output code:

OUT -> PostgreSQL_01.sql

CREATE TABLE films (
    code        char(5) CONSTRAINT firstkey PRIMARY KEY,
    title       varchar(40) NOT NULL,
    did         integer NOT NULL,
    date_prod   date,
    kind        varchar(10),
    len VARCHAR !!!RESOLVE EWI!!! /*** SSC-EWI-0036 - INTERVAL DATA TYPE CONVERTED TO VARCHAR ***/!!!
)
COMMENT = '{ "origin": "sf_sc", "name": "snowconvert", "version": {  "major": 0,  "minor": 0,  "patch": "0" }, "attributes": {  "component": "postgresql",  "convertedOn": "04/24/2025",  "domain": "test" }}';

As you can see, most of the structure remains the same. For example, some cases require the data types to be transformed.

SnowConvert Terminology

Before we get lost in the magic of these code conversions, here are a few terms/definitions so you know what we mean when we start dropping them all over the documentation:

• SQL (Structured Query Language): the standard language for storing, manipulating, and retrieving data in most modern database architectures.

• SnowConvert: the software that converts your PostgreSQL & based languages files securely and automatically to the Snowflake cloud data platform.

• Conversion rule or transformation rule: rules that allow SnowConvert to convert from a portion of source code to the expected target code.

• Parse: Parsing is an initial process by SnowConvert to understand the source code and build up an internal data structure required for executing the conversion rules.

On the following few pages, you'll learn more about the kind of conversions that SnowConvert for PostgreSQL & based languages is capable of. If you're ready, visit the Getting Started page in this documentation.