[postgis-users] Convert already loaded table into a spatial table (points)

[Fabio Renzo Panettieri]

On Thu, 2010-08-12 at 12:53 -0500, Appel, Tony wrote:
> I have already loaded a table that contains X, Y and Z values. AT the
> time of loading it was thought we did not need a spatial component to
> this table.
> 
>  
> 
> Now we realize that we do have a need but do not want to reload the
> 190 million records again and create the point features on load.
> 
>  
> 
> Is it possible to create the point geometry in the existing table….if
> so, how?


You can always add a new geometry column to your existing table.

SELECT AddGeometryColumn
('public','my_table','the_geom',4326,'POINT',2);
http://postgis.refractions.net/docs/AddGeometryColumn.html

And after that you create the geometries, assuming you have points stored:

UPDATE my_table SET the_geom = ST_MakePoint(x, y, z);
http://postgis.refractions.net/docs/ST_MakePoint.html


-- 
Fabio R. Panettieri
Software Architect
http://www.xoomcode.com