diff --git a/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c b/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c
index c6db3d16b92c9121f371d6b25dca1cc6fc55c119..7f0ea88c4383f1a214f0cf1b110cf41dec3d0232 100644
--- a/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c
+++ b/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c,v 1.109 2008/07/16 16:55:23 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/catalog/namespace.c,v 1.110 2008/08/30 01:39:13 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -2189,6 +2189,9 @@ makeRangeVarFromNameList(List *names)
  *
  * This is used primarily to form error messages, and so we do not quote
  * the list elements, for the sake of legibility.
+ *
+ * In most scenarios the list elements should always be Value strings,
+ * but we also allow A_Star for the convenience of ColumnRef processing.
  */
 char *
 NameListToString(List *names)
@@ -2200,9 +2203,18 @@ NameListToString(List *names)
 
 	foreach(l, names)
 	{
+		Node	   *name = (Node *) lfirst(l);
+
 		if (l != list_head(names))
 			appendStringInfoChar(&string, '.');
-		appendStringInfoString(&string, strVal(lfirst(l)));
+
+		if (IsA(name, String))
+			appendStringInfoString(&string, strVal(name));
+		else if (IsA(name, A_Star))
+			appendStringInfoString(&string, "*");
+		else
+			elog(ERROR, "unexpected node type in name list: %d",
+				 (int) nodeTag(name));
 	}
 
 	return string.data;
diff --git a/src/backend/commands/async.c b/src/backend/commands/async.c
index 0a58d5e752a53362b24e0d285aded760e98360ce..fabba799c4a50d190aad342c01875b65c938a33e 100644
--- a/src/backend/commands/async.c
+++ b/src/backend/commands/async.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/commands/async.c,v 1.140 2008/03/26 21:10:37 alvherre Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/commands/async.c,v 1.141 2008/08/30 01:39:13 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -274,24 +274,16 @@ Async_Listen(const char *relname)
 void
 Async_Unlisten(const char *relname)
 {
-	/* Handle specially the `unlisten "*"' command */
-	if ((!relname) || (*relname == '\0') || (strcmp(relname, "*") == 0))
-	{
-		Async_UnlistenAll();
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		if (Trace_notify)
-			elog(DEBUG1, "Async_Unlisten(%s,%d)", relname, MyProcPid);
+	if (Trace_notify)
+		elog(DEBUG1, "Async_Unlisten(%s,%d)", relname, MyProcPid);
 
-		queue_listen(LISTEN_UNLISTEN, relname);
-	}
+	queue_listen(LISTEN_UNLISTEN, relname);
 }
 
 /*
  * Async_UnlistenAll
  *
- *		This is invoked by UNLISTEN "*" command, and also at backend exit.
+ *		This is invoked by UNLISTEN * command, and also at backend exit.
  */
 void
 Async_UnlistenAll(void)
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
index 4e984719d3d7454d9c61bd4731293fbd23dc2583..67a25500dac9a1464ac06ac844d90ed234be60f3 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c,v 1.402 2008/08/28 23:09:45 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c,v 1.403 2008/08/30 01:39:13 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -1697,6 +1697,14 @@ _copyFuncCall(FuncCall *from)
 	return newnode;
 }
 
+static A_Star *
+_copyAStar(A_Star *from)
+{
+	A_Star  *newnode = makeNode(A_Star);
+
+	return newnode;
+}
+
 static A_Indices *
 _copyAIndices(A_Indices *from)
 {
@@ -3589,6 +3597,9 @@ copyObject(void *from)
 		case T_FuncCall:
 			retval = _copyFuncCall(from);
 			break;
+		case T_A_Star:
+			retval = _copyAStar(from);
+			break;
 		case T_A_Indices:
 			retval = _copyAIndices(from);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
index 3d130c9524aa6e6b2ba46b7d1d46f1707ce8950d..298d03aa9bab2776966ed041ea34a4876b5d33ba 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c,v 1.329 2008/08/28 23:09:46 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c,v 1.330 2008/08/30 01:39:13 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -1765,6 +1765,12 @@ _equalFuncCall(FuncCall *a, FuncCall *b)
 	return true;
 }
 
+static bool
+_equalAStar(A_Star *a, A_Star *b)
+{
+	return true;
+}
+
 static bool
 _equalAIndices(A_Indices *a, A_Indices *b)
 {
@@ -2531,6 +2537,9 @@ equal(void *a, void *b)
 		case T_FuncCall:
 			retval = _equalFuncCall(a, b);
 			break;
+		case T_A_Star:
+			retval = _equalAStar(a, b);
+			break;
 		case T_A_Indices:
 			retval = _equalAIndices(a, b);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
index 91fa30ae2326a352db21688591e1f95181891c7d..882dd0f9f14494fae28492551e277969795fa269 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c,v 1.336 2008/08/28 23:09:46 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c,v 1.337 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  * NOTES
  *	  Every node type that can appear in stored rules' parsetrees *must*
@@ -1989,6 +1989,12 @@ _outAConst(StringInfo str, A_Const *node)
 	WRITE_LOCATION_FIELD(location);
 }
 
+static void
+_outA_Star(StringInfo str, A_Star *node)
+{
+	WRITE_NODE_TYPE("A_STAR");
+}
+
 static void
 _outA_Indices(StringInfo str, A_Indices *node)
 {
@@ -2467,6 +2473,9 @@ _outNode(StringInfo str, void *obj)
 			case T_A_Const:
 				_outAConst(str, obj);
 				break;
+			case T_A_Star:
+				_outA_Star(str, obj);
+				break;
 			case T_A_Indices:
 				_outA_Indices(str, obj);
 				break;
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/gram.y b/src/backend/parser/gram.y
index e908750f76a996518e472055be271c6624a0308d..78e81fbf562f82e5999f1beacd8d628ac76ac11c 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/gram.y
+++ b/src/backend/parser/gram.y
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/gram.y,v 2.619 2008/08/28 23:09:47 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/gram.y,v 2.620 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  * HISTORY
  *	  AUTHOR			DATE			MAJOR EVENT
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static bool QueryIsRule = FALSE;
  */
 /*#define __YYSCLASS*/
 
-static Node *makeColumnRef(char *relname, List *indirection, int location);
+static Node *makeColumnRef(char *colname, List *indirection, int location);
 static Node *makeTypeCast(Node *arg, TypeName *typename, int location);
 static Node *makeStringConst(char *str, int location);
 static Node *makeStringConstCast(char *str, int location, TypeName *typename);
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static Node *makeBoolAConst(bool state, int location);
 static FuncCall *makeOverlaps(List *largs, List *rargs, int location);
 static void check_qualified_name(List *names);
 static List *check_func_name(List *names);
+static List *check_indirection(List *indirection);
 static List *extractArgTypes(List *parameters);
 static SelectStmt *findLeftmostSelect(SelectStmt *node);
 static void insertSelectOptions(SelectStmt *stmt,
@@ -5144,9 +5145,7 @@ UnlistenStmt:
 			| UNLISTEN '*'
 				{
 					UnlistenStmt *n = makeNode(UnlistenStmt);
-					n->relation = makeNode(RangeVar);
-					n->relation->relname = "*";
-					n->relation->schemaname = NULL;
+					n->relation = NULL;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
 		;
@@ -5999,7 +5998,7 @@ insert_column_item:
 				{
 					$$ = makeNode(ResTarget);
 					$$->name = $1;
-					$$->indirection = $2;
+					$$->indirection = check_indirection($2);
 					$$->val = NULL;
 					$$->location = @1;
 				}
@@ -6138,7 +6137,7 @@ set_target:
 				{
 					$$ = makeNode(ResTarget);
 					$$->name = $1;
-					$$->indirection = $2;
+					$$->indirection = check_indirection($2);
 					$$->val = NULL;	/* upper production sets this */
 					$$->location = @1;
 				}
@@ -7842,7 +7841,7 @@ c_expr:		columnref								{ $$ = $1; }
 					{
 						A_Indirection *n = makeNode(A_Indirection);
 						n->arg = (Node *) p;
-						n->indirection = $2;
+						n->indirection = check_indirection($2);
 						$$ = (Node *) n;
 					}
 					else
@@ -7854,7 +7853,7 @@ c_expr:		columnref								{ $$ = $1; }
 					{
 						A_Indirection *n = makeNode(A_Indirection);
 						n->arg = $2;
-						n->indirection = $4;
+						n->indirection = check_indirection($4);
 						$$ = (Node *)n;
 					}
 					else
@@ -8409,7 +8408,7 @@ xml_attribute_el: a_expr AS ColLabel
 				{
 					$$ = makeNode(ResTarget);
 					$$->name = $3;
-					$$->indirection = NULL;
+					$$->indirection = NIL;
 					$$->val = (Node *) $1;
 					$$->location = @1;
 				}
@@ -8417,7 +8416,7 @@ xml_attribute_el: a_expr AS ColLabel
 				{
 					$$ = makeNode(ResTarget);
 					$$->name = NULL;
-					$$->indirection = NULL;
+					$$->indirection = NIL;
 					$$->val = (Node *) $1;
 					$$->location = @1;
 				}
@@ -8724,7 +8723,7 @@ indirection_el:
 				}
 			| '.' '*'
 				{
-					$$ = (Node *) makeString("*");
+					$$ = (Node *) makeNode(A_Star);
 				}
 			| '[' a_expr ']'
 				{
@@ -8833,7 +8832,7 @@ target_el:	a_expr AS ColLabel
 			| '*'
 				{
 					ColumnRef *n = makeNode(ColumnRef);
-					n->fields = list_make1(makeString("*"));
+					n->fields = list_make1(makeNode(A_Star));
 					n->location = @1;
 
 					$$ = makeNode(ResTarget);
@@ -9511,7 +9510,7 @@ SpecialRuleRelation:
 %%
 
 static Node *
-makeColumnRef(char *relname, List *indirection, int location)
+makeColumnRef(char *colname, List *indirection, int location)
 {
 	/*
 	 * Generate a ColumnRef node, with an A_Indirection node added if there
@@ -9533,23 +9532,30 @@ makeColumnRef(char *relname, List *indirection, int location)
 			if (nfields == 0)
 			{
 				/* easy case - all indirection goes to A_Indirection */
-				c->fields = list_make1(makeString(relname));
-				i->indirection = indirection;
+				c->fields = list_make1(makeString(colname));
+				i->indirection = check_indirection(indirection);
 			}
 			else
 			{
 				/* got to split the list in two */
-				i->indirection = list_copy_tail(indirection, nfields);
+				i->indirection = check_indirection(list_copy_tail(indirection,
+																  nfields));
 				indirection = list_truncate(indirection, nfields);
-				c->fields = lcons(makeString(relname), indirection);
+				c->fields = lcons(makeString(colname), indirection);
 			}
 			i->arg = (Node *) c;
 			return (Node *) i;
 		}
+		else if (IsA(lfirst(l), A_Star))
+		{
+			/* We only allow '*' at the end of a ColumnRef */
+			if (lnext(l) != NULL)
+				yyerror("improper use of \"*\"");
+		}
 		nfields++;
 	}
 	/* No subscripting, so all indirection gets added to field list */
-	c->fields = lcons(makeString(relname), indirection);
+	c->fields = lcons(makeString(colname), indirection);
 	return (Node *) c;
 }
 
@@ -9712,8 +9718,6 @@ check_qualified_name(List *names)
 	{
 		if (!IsA(lfirst(i), String))
 			yyerror("syntax error");
-		else if (strcmp(strVal(lfirst(i)), "*") == 0)
-			yyerror("syntax error");
 	}
 }
 
@@ -9731,12 +9735,31 @@ check_func_name(List *names)
 	{
 		if (!IsA(lfirst(i), String))
 			yyerror("syntax error");
-		else if (strcmp(strVal(lfirst(i)), "*") == 0)
-			yyerror("syntax error");
 	}
 	return names;
 }
 
+/* check_indirection --- check the result of indirection production
+ *
+ * We only allow '*' at the end of the list, but it's hard to enforce that
+ * in the grammar, so do it here.
+ */
+static List *
+check_indirection(List *indirection)
+{
+	ListCell *l;
+
+	foreach(l, indirection)
+	{
+		if (IsA(lfirst(l), A_Star))
+		{
+			if (lnext(l) != NULL)
+				yyerror("improper use of \"*\"");
+		}
+	}
+	return indirection;
+}
+
 /* extractArgTypes()
  * Given a list of FunctionParameter nodes, extract a list of just the
  * argument types (TypeNames) for input parameters only.  This is what
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c b/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c
index 7097ef50582bbd9fce0c6557bcc1460a72afcc75..5285f0ba3d9f2fdbda320ae1b67d17fcc9ae5133 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c
+++ b/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c,v 1.177 2008/08/28 23:09:47 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_clause.c,v 1.178 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -1181,7 +1181,8 @@ findTargetlistEntry(ParseState *pstate, Node *node, List **tlist, int clause)
 	 *----------
 	 */
 	if (IsA(node, ColumnRef) &&
-		list_length(((ColumnRef *) node)->fields) == 1)
+		list_length(((ColumnRef *) node)->fields) == 1 &&
+		IsA(linitial(((ColumnRef *) node)->fields), String))
 	{
 		char	   *name = strVal(linitial(((ColumnRef *) node)->fields));
 		int			location = ((ColumnRef *) node)->location;
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c b/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c
index 3c14cf1b5279c0624a9d114a1f6e394cc36719c3..8496e7291c1768861450b06c317a11c86fb72936 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c
+++ b/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c,v 1.232 2008/08/28 23:09:47 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c,v 1.233 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -334,6 +334,13 @@ transformIndirection(ParseState *pstate, Node *basenode, List *indirection)
 
 		if (IsA(n, A_Indices))
 			subscripts = lappend(subscripts, n);
+		else if (IsA(n, A_Star))
+		{
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED),
+					 errmsg("row expansion via \"*\" is not supported here"),
+					 parser_errposition(pstate, exprLocation(basenode))));
+		}
 		else
 		{
 			Assert(IsA(n, String));
@@ -403,10 +410,14 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 	{
 		case 1:
 			{
-				char	   *name = strVal(linitial(cref->fields));
+				Node	   *field1 = (Node *) linitial(cref->fields);
+				char	   *name1;
+
+				Assert(IsA(field1, String));
+				name1 = strVal(field1);
 
 				/* Try to identify as an unqualified column */
-				node = colNameToVar(pstate, name, false, cref->location);
+				node = colNameToVar(pstate, name1, false, cref->location);
 
 				if (node == NULL)
 				{
@@ -419,7 +430,7 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 					 * have used VALUE as a column name in the past.)
 					 */
 					if (pstate->p_value_substitute != NULL &&
-						strcmp(name, "value") == 0)
+						strcmp(name1, "value") == 0)
 					{
 						node = (Node *) copyObject(pstate->p_value_substitute);
 
@@ -442,32 +453,40 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 					 * PostQUEL-inspired syntax.  The preferred form now is
 					 * "rel.*".
 					 */
-					if (refnameRangeTblEntry(pstate, NULL, name,
+					if (refnameRangeTblEntry(pstate, NULL, name1,
 											 &levels_up) != NULL)
-						node = transformWholeRowRef(pstate, NULL, name,
+						node = transformWholeRowRef(pstate, NULL, name1,
 													cref->location);
 					else
 						ereport(ERROR,
 								(errcode(ERRCODE_UNDEFINED_COLUMN),
 								 errmsg("column \"%s\" does not exist",
-										name),
+										name1),
 								 parser_errposition(pstate, cref->location)));
 				}
 				break;
 			}
 		case 2:
 			{
-				char	   *name1 = strVal(linitial(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name2 = strVal(lsecond(cref->fields));
+				Node	   *field1 = (Node *) linitial(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field2 = (Node *) lsecond(cref->fields);
+				char	   *name1;
+				char	   *name2;
+
+				Assert(IsA(field1, String));
+				name1 = strVal(field1);
 
 				/* Whole-row reference? */
-				if (strcmp(name2, "*") == 0)
+				if (IsA(field2, A_Star))
 				{
 					node = transformWholeRowRef(pstate, NULL, name1,
 												cref->location);
 					break;
 				}
 
+				Assert(IsA(field2, String));
+				name2 = strVal(field2);
+
 				/* Try to identify as a once-qualified column */
 				node = qualifiedNameToVar(pstate, NULL, name1, name2, true,
 										  cref->location);
@@ -490,18 +509,29 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 			}
 		case 3:
 			{
-				char	   *name1 = strVal(linitial(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name2 = strVal(lsecond(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name3 = strVal(lthird(cref->fields));
+				Node	   *field1 = (Node *) linitial(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field2 = (Node *) lsecond(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field3 = (Node *) lthird(cref->fields);
+				char	   *name1;
+				char	   *name2;
+				char	   *name3;
+
+				Assert(IsA(field1, String));
+				name1 = strVal(field1);
+				Assert(IsA(field2, String));
+				name2 = strVal(field2);
 
 				/* Whole-row reference? */
-				if (strcmp(name3, "*") == 0)
+				if (IsA(field3, A_Star))
 				{
 					node = transformWholeRowRef(pstate, name1, name2,
 												cref->location);
 					break;
 				}
 
+				Assert(IsA(field3, String));
+				name3 = strVal(field3);
+
 				/* Try to identify as a twice-qualified column */
 				node = qualifiedNameToVar(pstate, name1, name2, name3, true,
 										  cref->location);
@@ -520,10 +550,21 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 			}
 		case 4:
 			{
-				char	   *name1 = strVal(linitial(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name2 = strVal(lsecond(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name3 = strVal(lthird(cref->fields));
-				char	   *name4 = strVal(lfourth(cref->fields));
+				Node	   *field1 = (Node *) linitial(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field2 = (Node *) lsecond(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field3 = (Node *) lthird(cref->fields);
+				Node	   *field4 = (Node *) lfourth(cref->fields);
+				char	   *name1;
+				char	   *name2;
+				char	   *name3;
+				char	   *name4;
+
+				Assert(IsA(field1, String));
+				name1 = strVal(field1);
+				Assert(IsA(field2, String));
+				name2 = strVal(field2);
+				Assert(IsA(field3, String));
+				name3 = strVal(field3);
 
 				/*
 				 * We check the catalog name and then ignore it.
@@ -536,13 +577,16 @@ transformColumnRef(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref)
 							 parser_errposition(pstate, cref->location)));
 
 				/* Whole-row reference? */
-				if (strcmp(name4, "*") == 0)
+				if (IsA(field4, A_Star))
 				{
 					node = transformWholeRowRef(pstate, name2, name3,
 												cref->location);
 					break;
 				}
 
+				Assert(IsA(field4, String));
+				name4 = strVal(field4);
+
 				/* Try to identify as a twice-qualified column */
 				node = qualifiedNameToVar(pstate, name2, name3, name4, true,
 										  cref->location);
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c b/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c
index c7758e9adde44046c74f885fa6bcffd0d70d9d14..df87f3874cc6e5576b53516232498b00888523f5 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c
+++ b/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c,v 1.162 2008/08/28 23:09:48 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_target.c,v 1.163 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -109,14 +109,14 @@ transformTargetList(ParseState *pstate, List *targetlist)
 
 		/*
 		 * Check for "something.*".  Depending on the complexity of the
-		 * "something", the star could appear as the last name in ColumnRef,
+		 * "something", the star could appear as the last field in ColumnRef,
 		 * or as the last indirection item in A_Indirection.
 		 */
 		if (IsA(res->val, ColumnRef))
 		{
 			ColumnRef  *cref = (ColumnRef *) res->val;
 
-			if (strcmp(strVal(llast(cref->fields)), "*") == 0)
+			if (IsA(llast(cref->fields), A_Star))
 			{
 				/* It is something.*, expand into multiple items */
 				p_target = list_concat(p_target,
@@ -128,10 +128,8 @@ transformTargetList(ParseState *pstate, List *targetlist)
 		else if (IsA(res->val, A_Indirection))
 		{
 			A_Indirection *ind = (A_Indirection *) res->val;
-			Node	   *lastitem = llast(ind->indirection);
 
-			if (IsA(lastitem, String) &&
-				strcmp(strVal(lastitem), "*") == 0)
+			if (IsA(llast(ind->indirection), A_Star))
 			{
 				/* It is something.*, expand into multiple items */
 				p_target = list_concat(p_target,
@@ -176,14 +174,14 @@ transformExpressionList(ParseState *pstate, List *exprlist)
 
 		/*
 		 * Check for "something.*".  Depending on the complexity of the
-		 * "something", the star could appear as the last name in ColumnRef,
+		 * "something", the star could appear as the last field in ColumnRef,
 		 * or as the last indirection item in A_Indirection.
 		 */
 		if (IsA(e, ColumnRef))
 		{
 			ColumnRef  *cref = (ColumnRef *) e;
 
-			if (strcmp(strVal(llast(cref->fields)), "*") == 0)
+			if (IsA(llast(cref->fields), A_Star))
 			{
 				/* It is something.*, expand into multiple items */
 				result = list_concat(result,
@@ -195,10 +193,8 @@ transformExpressionList(ParseState *pstate, List *exprlist)
 		else if (IsA(e, A_Indirection))
 		{
 			A_Indirection *ind = (A_Indirection *) e;
-			Node	   *lastitem = llast(ind->indirection);
 
-			if (IsA(lastitem, String) &&
-				strcmp(strVal(lastitem), "*") == 0)
+			if (IsA(llast(ind->indirection), A_Star))
 			{
 				/* It is something.*, expand into multiple items */
 				result = list_concat(result,
@@ -560,6 +556,13 @@ transformAssignmentIndirection(ParseState *pstate,
 			if (((A_Indices *) n)->lidx != NULL)
 				isSlice = true;
 		}
+		else if (IsA(n, A_Star))
+		{
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED),
+					 errmsg("row expansion via \"*\" is not supported here"),
+					 parser_errposition(pstate, location)));
+		}
 		else
 		{
 			FieldStore *fstore;
@@ -809,7 +812,7 @@ checkInsertTargets(ParseState *pstate, List *cols, List **attrnos)
  * ExpandColumnRefStar()
  *		Transforms foo.* into a list of expressions or targetlist entries.
  *
- * This handles the case where '*' appears as the last or only name in a
+ * This handles the case where '*' appears as the last or only item in a
  * ColumnRef.  The code is shared between the case of foo.* at the top level
  * in a SELECT target list (where we want TargetEntry nodes in the result)
  * and foo.* in a ROW() or VALUES() construct (where we want just bare
@@ -830,13 +833,9 @@ ExpandColumnRefStar(ParseState *pstate, ColumnRef *cref,
 		 * (e.g., SELECT * FROM emp, dept)
 		 *
 		 * Since the grammar only accepts bare '*' at top level of SELECT, we
-		 * need not handle the targetlist==false case here.  However, we must
-		 * test for it because the grammar currently fails to distinguish a
-		 * quoted name "*" from a real asterisk.
+		 * need not handle the targetlist==false case here.
 		 */
-		if (!targetlist)
-			elog(ERROR, "invalid use of *");
-
+		Assert(targetlist);
 		return ExpandAllTables(pstate);
 	}
 	else
@@ -1226,7 +1225,7 @@ FigureColnameInternal(Node *node, char **name)
 				{
 					Node	   *i = lfirst(l);
 
-					if (strcmp(strVal(i), "*") != 0)
+					if (IsA(i, String))
 						fname = strVal(i);
 				}
 				if (fname)
@@ -1242,13 +1241,12 @@ FigureColnameInternal(Node *node, char **name)
 				char	   *fname = NULL;
 				ListCell   *l;
 
-				/* find last field name, if any, ignoring "*" */
+				/* find last field name, if any, ignoring "*" and subscripts */
 				foreach(l, ind->indirection)
 				{
 					Node	   *i = lfirst(l);
 
-					if (IsA(i, String) &&
-						strcmp(strVal(i), "*") != 0)
+					if (IsA(i, String))
 						fname = strVal(i);
 				}
 				if (fname)
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c b/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c
index 78e210167dcb67225c05db504c93ebd2f6c90bf2..7f6f1617456ecb73f236719cf8c3496e277ff52b 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c
+++ b/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c,v 1.97 2008/04/29 20:44:49 tgl Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/parser/parse_type.c,v 1.98 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ typenameTypeMod(ParseState *pstate, const TypeName *typename, Type typ)
 		{
 			ColumnRef  *cr = (ColumnRef *) tm;
 
-			if (list_length(cr->fields) == 1)
+			if (list_length(cr->fields) == 1 &&
+				IsA(linitial(cr->fields), String))
 				cstr = strVal(linitial(cr->fields));
 		}
 		if (!cstr)
diff --git a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
index 1e419a7265acada2641733d10aca3c78670e1876..2f9078c2fbac8e4e15b0c77138ad96861c6a5b01 100644
--- a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
+++ b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  *
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/tcop/utility.c,v 1.296 2008/08/13 00:07:50 alvherre Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/tcop/utility.c,v 1.297 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -817,7 +817,10 @@ ProcessUtility(Node *parsetree,
 			{
 				UnlistenStmt *stmt = (UnlistenStmt *) parsetree;
 
-				Async_Unlisten(stmt->relation->relname);
+				if (stmt->relation)
+					Async_Unlisten(stmt->relation->relname);
+				else
+					Async_UnlistenAll();
 			}
 			break;
 
diff --git a/src/include/nodes/nodes.h b/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
index 78dd917ecfaae2b0d13b3f813ed7848beb0c9598..7e3d67a241fe9e05ab50f4670c017fe915b5816f 100644
--- a/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
+++ b/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2008, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
- * $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/include/nodes/nodes.h,v 1.210 2008/08/29 22:49:07 tgl Exp $
+ * $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/include/nodes/nodes.h,v 1.211 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ typedef enum NodeTag
 	T_ParamRef,
 	T_A_Const,
 	T_FuncCall,
+	T_A_Star,
 	T_A_Indices,
 	T_A_Indirection,
 	T_A_ArrayExpr,
diff --git a/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h b/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
index 6292ca237c8d6bec410da159394523984632e3e8..7eea317589675682ab781517ddedb049ea4a649a 100644
--- a/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
+++ b/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2008, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
  *
- * $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h,v 1.372 2008/08/28 23:09:48 tgl Exp $
+ * $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h,v 1.373 2008/08/30 01:39:14 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -178,8 +178,10 @@ typedef struct TypeName
 /*
  * ColumnRef - specifies a reference to a column, or possibly a whole tuple
  *
- *		The "fields" list must be nonempty; its last component may be "*"
- *		instead of a regular field name.
+ * The "fields" list must be nonempty.  It can contain string Value nodes
+ * (representing names) and A_Star nodes (representing occurrence of a '*').
+ * Currently, A_Star must appear only as the last list element --- the grammar
+ * is responsible for enforcing this!
  *
  * Note: any array subscripting or selection of fields from composite columns
  * is represented by an A_Indirection node above the ColumnRef.  However,
@@ -189,7 +191,7 @@ typedef struct TypeName
 typedef struct ColumnRef
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
-	List	   *fields;			/* field names (list of Value strings) */
+	List	   *fields;			/* field names (Value strings) or A_Star */
 	int			location;		/* token location, or -1 if unknown */
 } ColumnRef;
 
@@ -271,35 +273,46 @@ typedef struct FuncCall
 } FuncCall;
 
 /*
- * A_Indices - array reference or bounds ([lidx:uidx] or [uidx])
+ * A_Star - '*' representing all columns of a table or compound field
+ *
+ * This can appear within ColumnRef.fields, A_Indirection.indirection, and
+ * ResTarget.indirection lists.
+ */
+typedef struct A_Star
+{
+	NodeTag		type;
+} A_Star;
+
+/*
+ * A_Indices - array subscript or slice bounds ([lidx:uidx] or [uidx])
  */
 typedef struct A_Indices
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
-	Node	   *lidx;			/* could be NULL */
+	Node	   *lidx;			/* NULL if it's a single subscript */
 	Node	   *uidx;
 } A_Indices;
 
 /*
  * A_Indirection - select a field and/or array element from an expression
  *
- * The indirection list can contain both A_Indices nodes (representing
- * subscripting) and string Value nodes (representing field selection
- * --- the string value is the name of the field to select).  For example,
- * a complex selection operation like
+ * The indirection list can contain A_Indices nodes (representing
+ * subscripting), string Value nodes (representing field selection --- the
+ * string value is the name of the field to select), and A_Star nodes
+ * (representing selection of all fields of a composite type).
+ * For example, a complex selection operation like
  *				(foo).field1[42][7].field2
  * would be represented with a single A_Indirection node having a 4-element
  * indirection list.
  *
- * Note: as of Postgres 8.0, we don't support arrays of composite values,
- * so cases in which a field select follows a subscript aren't actually
- * semantically legal.	However the parser is prepared to handle such.
+ * Currently, A_Star must appear only as the last list element --- the grammar
+ * is responsible for enforcing this!
  */
 typedef struct A_Indirection
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
 	Node	   *arg;			/* the thing being selected from */
-	List	   *indirection;	/* subscripts and/or field names */
+	List	   *indirection;	/* subscripts and/or field names and/or * */
 } A_Indirection;
 
 /*
@@ -334,7 +347,7 @@ typedef struct ResTarget
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
 	char	   *name;			/* column name or NULL */
-	List	   *indirection;	/* subscripts and field names, or NIL */
+	List	   *indirection;	/* subscripts, field names, and '*', or NIL */
 	Node	   *val;			/* the value expression to compute or assign */
 	int			location;		/* token location, or -1 if unknown */
 } ResTarget;
@@ -1739,7 +1752,7 @@ typedef struct NotifyStmt
 typedef struct ListenStmt
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
-	RangeVar   *relation;		/* qualified name to listen on */
+	RangeVar   *relation;		/* name to listen on */
 } ListenStmt;
 
 /* ----------------------
@@ -1749,7 +1762,7 @@ typedef struct ListenStmt
 typedef struct UnlistenStmt
 {
 	NodeTag		type;
-	RangeVar   *relation;		/* qualified name to unlisten on, or '*' */
+	RangeVar   *relation;		/* name to unlisten on, or NULL for all */
 } UnlistenStmt;
 
 /* ----------------------