PostgreSQL 9.3 - standard_confirming_strings option in postgresql.conf not affecting remote machine
I am updating a program at work that communicates with a postgreSQL 9.3 database. I need to turn off an option in the postgresql.conf file called standard_conforming_strings, so that I can store backslashes properly in the database.


These two things are completely unrelated. You may want to change the setting, but you don't need to in order to "store backslashes properly". I very strongly recommend that you do not change standard_conforming_strings - it's a backward compatibility setting that will get removed from PostgreSQL at some point in the future. Not only that, it's better to follow the standard where possible.

With standard_conforming_strings on, you can store backslashes just like anything else:

CREATE TABLE x(blah text);

SET standard_conforming_strings = on;

INSERT INTO x(blah) VALUES ('back\slash');

SELECT blah FROM x;


will produce back\slash.

If you turn standard_conforming_strings off you have to write 'back\slash' to get the same effect. The same is true for E'' strings: E'back\slash'.


  During installation, I turn off the standard_conforming_strings option in postgresql.conf automatically on the server machine. However, client installations of this program simply consist of shortcuts that point to the executable on the server machine. The client machines don't have postgres installed at all.


standard_conforming_strings is a server side setting. It can also be assigned by clients, but usually isn't, and the default is set server-side.

You don't need to mess with clients.


  If data containing a backslash is stored on the server machine, the data saves correctly, meaning the standard_conforming_strings option was successfully turned off. 


Again, your first statement doesn't lead to the second at all. Your assumption is invalid.


  However, when information is saved from a client machine, backslashes are stored incorrectly (as '\134' instead of '\').


According to what client? Show the actual SQL, provide info on what the client app is, show the DDL for the table, etc.

If you're in doubt about the value of standard_conforming_strings for a session, use SHOW standard_conforming_strings to view the setting.