.. _getting_started:

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Getting Started
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Pre-compiled and configured installation packages for pgAdmin 4 are available for a number of desktop environments; we recommend using an installer whenever possible.  A standard installation using the pgAdmin installer is a server deployment.

In a Server Deployment, the pgAdmin application is deployed behind a webserver or with the WSGI interface.  
If you install pgAdmin in server mode, you will be prompted to provide a role name and pgAdmin password when you initially connect to pgAdmin.  The first role registered with pgAdmin will be an administrative user; the administrative role can use the pgAdmin *User Management* dialog to create and manage additional pgAdmin user accounts.  When a user authenticates with pgAdmin, the pgAdmin tree control displays the server definitions associated with that login role.  

Contents:

.. toctree::

   server_deployment
   pgadmin_login
   pgadmin_user 

In a Desktop Deployment, the pgAdmin application is configured to use the desktop runtime environment to host and display the program on a supported platform. Typically, users will install a pre-built package to run pgAdmin in desktop mode, but a manual desktop deployment can be installed and though it is more difficult to setup, it may be useful for developers interested in understanding how pgAdmin works.

Contents:

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   
   desktop_deployment

The pgAdmin 4 client features a highly-customizable display that features drag-and-drop panels that you can arrange to make the best use of your desktop environment.  

The tree control provides an elegant overview of the managed servers, and the objects that reside on each server. Right-click on a node within the tree control to access context-sensitive menus that provide quick access to management tasks for the selected object.

The tabbed browser provide quick access to statistical information about each object in the tree control, and pgAdmin tools and utilities (such as the Query tool and the debugger). pgAdmin opens additional feature tabs each time you access the extended functionality offered by pgAdmin tools; you can open, close, and re-arrange feature tabs as needed. 

Use the *Preferences* dialog to customize the content and colors of the pgAdmin display.  To open the *Preferences* dialog, select *Preferences* from the *File* menu.

*Help* buttons in the lower-left corner of each dialog will open the online help for the dialog.  You can access additional Postgres help by navigating through the *Help* menu, and selecting the name of the resource that you wish to open. 

Contents:

.. toctree::

   browser
   pgadmin_menu_bar
   pgadmin_tabbed_browser
   pgadmin_tree_control
   preferences
   
Before using pgAdmin to manage objects that reside on a server, you must define a connection to the server; for more information please see *Connecting to a Server*:
   
Contents:

.. toctree::

   connecting
