[mapserver-users] Dynamic web maps using MS Access

[Homme Zwaagstra]

> 
> I do not know if this is a help, but i use MSaccess
> and ODBC to connect to a postgresql database.
> 

We use this method as well to good effect; a pretty seamless and
transparent integration between Access and Postgres can be
created. See http://odbc.postgresql.org for the psqlODBC driver. With
a little VB, Perl, whatever you can make the process of synchronising
the Access and Postgres databases a 1 click (or automatic) job. If
security is an issue you can use an SSH client in conjunction with
port forwarding to create an encrypted connection as psqlODBC does not
yet support SSH. Check out the excellent PuTTY SSH client from
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/ (specifically the
plink executable) if interested.


> Cheers
> 
> --- Shaun Kolomeitz <S.Kolomeitz at toowoomba.qld.gov.au>
> wrote:
> > Dear mapserver-users,
> > 
> > I have a mate who is interested in using mapserver
> > to display a dynamic 
> > (regularly updated) Access database.
> > 
> > We are only talking up to about 10 000 records so I
> > thought he could do 
> > something like -
> > 1. Get Access to regularly write the tabular info
> > out to a text file 
> > (either as records are updated or at regular
> > intervals)
> > 2. Get a cron job to translate the text file to a
> > shapefile and index it
> > 3. My guess is that mapserver would then read the
> > new data provided it 
> > wasn't already involved in reading the file/indexes.
> > My concern is that using this approach there is a
> > potential for file 
> > contention/locking to stuff things up.
> > 
> > Is there a simpler approach that someone else can
> > think of for using 
> > dynamic data from Access to display using mapserver
> > ?
> > (and yes I already asked whether he could drop
> > Access and do it all in 
> > mapserver - no go unfortunately).
> > 
> > I've searched the archives but there are no examples
> > / suggestions for 
> > dynamic mapping from MS Access (personally I'd
> > rather use MySQL or 
> > POSTGIS).
> > 
> > TIA,
> > Shaun Kolomeitz
> > 
> > eBusiness Manager, Toowoomba City Council
> > Phone: 07 4688 6863
> > Mail to:S.Kolomeitz at toowoomba.qld.gov.au