[postgis-users] PostGIS Geometry column

[Nicolas Ribot]

> Dear All,
> While workin with PostgreSQL 7.4.6 Geometry was stored as String for
> example:
> SRID=-1;POINT(135.744865606022 304.591390378093)
> Now we have installed PostgreSQL 8.1.3. and included in the installer
> PostGIS.
> Geometries are stored in a different format for example:
> 01010000003E580C9953964A41F76AF257F9CD5441
> Is there a way to set up PostgreSQL8.1 or PostGIS to store geometries in
> String format as it was prviously?
> Thanks a lot in advance
> Oleg
>

Hi Oleg.
I don't think it is possible. Postgis changed the way it stores
geometries internally, for space and performanace reason, if I
remenber well.
This format also avoids coordinate precision reduction as it could
happen with a textual format.
You can still display geometries as text by calling textual
representation functions when selecting geometries:
asText() (so srid displayed, OGS-compliant function)
asEXKT (srid dislpayed before the geometry).

Nicolas