We have had good success with postGIS for storing various spatial data sets (polygons, points and lines). They can be found at <http://postgis.refractions.net/>. We store our data in lat/long but postGIS has many different spatial reference systems defined and I would suspect that minutes/seconds exists. You may want to subscribe to and post your question on the postGIS mailing list. There are windows-ready compiled versions which seem to work well, although I've only played with them for prototypes (our real database servers are all linux so I can't be of any help on the Windoze front). In general support for this extension of postgres is quite helpful, so I would suggest asking on their general list. HTH, Greg Williamson DBA GlobeXplorer LLC -----Original Message----- From: pgsql-general-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of John Tregea Sent: Sun 6/11/2006 11:18 PM To: pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Subject: [GENERAL] Help with storing spatial (map coordinates) data? Hi, I have recently switched to PostgreSQL and had no problem bringing our existing (my)SQL databases and data into the environment. I am now extending the functionality of our databases and want to start storing spatial information. The information is made up of latitude and longitude coordinates that define a point or location on the earth's surface. e.g. degrees, minutes and seconds north/south and degrees, minutes and seconds east/west. I have read up on custom data types (with input and output functions) in the docs but am not sure if that is the best way to go. Can anyone point me to a simple, workable implementation of storing and managing this type of data or advise me on how to structure a series of fields that could combine to the required string? I am running postgreSQL 8.1.4 under WinXP Pro and currently evaluating an X-Talk front end called Revolution for the GUI development and have only some general experience with SQL. Thanks in advance John Tregea ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 6: explain analyze is your friend !DSPAM:448d0905111031804284693!
