[postgis-users] Howto use PostGIS/PostgreSQL and ArcMap/ArcView8

[Paul Ramsey]

Stefan Wurzinger wrote:

> Hi!
> 
> Is it possible to use PostGIS/PostgreSQL as Spatialdatabase
> in ArcMap/ArcView8?
> 
> What's your experiences in this case?
> 
> Do you have any tips and howtos for me?

<SARDONIC>
First, become a multi-million dollar client of ESRI. Second, tell the 
ESRI sales and development teams that they must support 
PostGIS/PostgreSQL directly or you will pull your contracts. Even then, 
you probably have a 50% chance of getting laughed out of the meeting. :)
</SARDONIC>

No, ESRI does not interoperate directly with any backend spatial 
database except ArcSDE. Even their "direct connect" technology for 
OracleSpatial uses SDE code hidden in the ArcMap client to interact with 
what is, on the Oracle side, an SDE database schema.

There is a third party open source attempt at shoehorning this problem, 
called PgArc. It may or may not suit your needs. It will certainly not 
be as transparent as ArcSDE as a spatial backend, that is for sure.

Paul

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      | Paul Ramsey
      | Refractions Research
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