[mapserver-users] OGR and MSSQL non-specific error

[Anzel, Phil - NRCS, Fort Collins, CO]

All,

I'm a bit confused: does MapServer 6.0.1 and OGR "officially" work with Sql Server 2008? I can see how use of the native SqlGeometry objects might be a bonus and would like to put it to the test.

MSSQL access via the plugin works with this LAYER:
  LAYER
    NAME 'States'  STATUS ON
    PROJECTION 'proj=latlong' 'ellps=GRS80' 'datum=NAD83' END
    CONNECTIONTYPE PLUGIN
    PLUGIN ...\msplugin_mssql2008.dll'
    CONNECTION 'server=xxx;database=;uid=xxx;pwd=xxx'
    PROCESSING 'CLOSE_CONNECTION=DEFER'
    DATA "ShapeGeometry from NAV_STATE as base_table using unique OBJECTID using SRID=4269"
    TYPE POLYGON
    CLASS STYLE OUTLINECOLOR '#e1dd00' WIDTH 2 END END
  END

This variant, changed to use OGR, fails:
  LAYER
    NAME 'States'  STATUS ON
    PROJECTION 'proj=latlong' 'ellps=GRS80' 'datum=NAD83' END
    CONNECTIONTYPE OGR
    CONNECTION 'MSSQL:server=xxx;database=;uid=xxx;pwd=xxx'
    PROCESSING 'CLOSE_CONNECTION=DEFER'
    DATA "ShapeGeometry from NAV_STATE as base_table using unique OBJECTID using SRID=4269"
    TYPE POLYGON
    CLASS STYLE OUTLINECOLOR '#e1dd00' WIDTH 2 END END
  END

Using shp2img (from MapServer 6.0.1 distribution for Win32/VS2010 retrieved 2011-07-18) with "-all_debug 5" yields:
  msOGRFileOpen(): OGR error.
  GetLayer(ShapeGeometry from NAV_STATE as base_table using unique OBJECTID using SRID=4269)
  failed for OGR connection `MSSQL:server=xxx;database=xxx;uid=xxx;pwd=xxx'.
There is no further detail as to the failure.

By way of reference,
1. In mapserver-users Digest, Vol 49, Issue 58, Tamas Szekeres states "BTW: With the current approach, connecting to mssql via OGR provides better performance than using the mssql plugin."
2. Tamas also indicates that OGR can talk to MSSQL in "[gdal-dev] OGR MS SQL Spatial driver has been added", http://www.osgeo.org/pipermail/gdal-dev/2010-September/026055.html.
3. MapServer documentation at http://mapserver.org/input/vector/ogr.html does not list MSSQL as a data provider.
4. MapServer documentation at http://mapserver.org/input/vector/mssql.html still shows use of the msplugin_mssql2008.dll plugin.

I must also wonder: has a measurable improvement been demonstrated by eliminating the plugin and going to the direct OGR to MSSQL connection?

Yours in confusion,

- Phil Anzel
       Contractor for USDA/NRCS
       ITC Web Soil Survey Team Member

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