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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I thought I might put in my two cents worth. more from a
philosophical and change management approach.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I have found that to make the full jump to FOSS4G might be
overwhelming for some. may I suggest a stepped approach where you run both
FOSS and proprietary solutions in tandum and then pahse proprietary solutions
out as they have been tested in FOSS?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>For instance, why not use GDAL/OGR to access data already
in ArcSDE?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>GDAL Raster: <A
href="http://www.gdal.org/frmt_sde.html">http://www.gdal.org/frmt_sde.html</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>OGR Vector: <A
href="http://www.gdal.org/ogr/drv_sde.html">http://www.gdal.org/ogr/drv_sde.html</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>if something more sophisticated is needed why not use
things like WMS to serve out base info and WFS-T to manage workable data. That
way you open up a realm of options for FOSS4G desktop clients with the security
knowing your old systems are there if things don't work out as planned.
Geoserver can help out with their SDE connector can help a lot <A
href="http://docs.codehaus.org/display/GEOS/Features">http://docs.codehaus.org/display/GEOS/Features</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>then desktop applications can be deployed depending on what
you need to do:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Simple:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>UDIG</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>JUMP</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>GCSIG</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>...others</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>more intensive (more to learn):</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>GRASS / QGIS</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>GMT (generic mapping tools)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>... others</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Web:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Mapserver</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>mapbuilder</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>mapbender</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>openlayers</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>... endless list</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Once people start to see that the move is pretty easy then
setup a plan to phase out licenses as they are replaced by FOSS solutions. the
money savings will also be a big support as those funds are put towards
people.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>When large projects make a change it's sometimes hard to
change course of the ship. Shall we use a titanic metaphore? What about small
changes over a long time instead of big changes over the short
term.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>When looking at the data end of things keep an eye out for
ESRI's method of connecting to a POSTGIS database. Migrating your data at that
point may be easier. Once you have an open source data backend then tieing in
all the other pieces become a cinch. Timing, Timing, Timing.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>There might be reason to still have access to a few
licences as time goes on until costum applications or various data providers
also make the switch or support your changes.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>If all else fails, export everything as SHP files, get
postGIS going and do a massive load, go to sleep for a while, fix any
missmatches, check your topology and then move into the world of
FOSS4G.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Although this was ot a step by step howto I hope it helps
migrate some folks imediately and then they can help drive the
others...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=908301516-17092007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Cheers</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>k4mik4ze<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, September 14, 2007 10:18<BR><B>To:</B>
discuss@lists.osgeo.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [OSGeo-Discuss] Re arcGIS and Grass
compatibility (k4mik4ze)<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Thanks a lot, I know about migration proyects, and linux, but i had
never migrated before GIS data, from arcGIS to X, so, I think the real question
is, Can i develop a web application for grass, using all data available in
a geo DATABASE? <BR>Thanks a lot, all information previously sent about this
issue, was really helpfull, but i still need that question to get an
answer.<BR>Thanks again.<BR clear=all><BR>-- <BR>!!!***k4mik4ze***!!!<BR>Linux
user #383955 <BR><BR></BODY></HTML>