Word on the street is that ESRI is going to slowly stray away from using Access and "strongly suggest" to their customers to use a "real" data mule (i.e. SQL, Oracle, etc).
-----Original Message----- From: Bill Thoen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 12:17 PM To: Mapinfo-L Subject: Re: MI-L GeoDatabase convert to MapInfo? Thanks everyone. Frank Andersen just sent me a trasnslation. Apparently the shape files are stored as OLE Objects, which means you have to have the software that creates these on your system to convert them back to shape (or so I understand.) I really don't think ESRI is deliberately trying to make their data format as hard as hell to use by outsiders -- I think it's more to do with building a more flexible system-- but I'm sure they aren't shedding many tears that their data can be used now only by their customers. And many of their customers (e.g. governments who maintain public data) no longer have the ability to produce their data in any other format than what their software offers. That's bad news for the rest of us. But I wonder why ESRI chose Access with all its limitations to be their data mule? Or is the geodatabase format compatible with SQL Server? I imagine that's the case. ESRI may be as self-centered as a tornado (what corporation's not?) but they're not that near-sighted. Boy, are we all going to be so dependent on ESRI and Microsoft if we don't watch out. Me, I'm going to see if there's anyone in the open source GIS community able and willing to write an addition to the OGR libraries to crack this nut, and try to get them some funding to do so. - Bill Thoen -----Original Message----- >From: Bill Thoen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:16 AM >To: 'Mapinfo-L' >Subject: RE: MI-L GeoDatabase convert to MapInfo? > > >Getting back to the original question, how does one convert one of these >abominations into MapInfo TAB format? I just received one from MoDOT, >and that's the format of choice. It appears to be an Access file with >many tables, but I can't find the spatial information in it. > >I see that some have suggested you convert it to Shape format, but what >do you use for that? > >If anyone wants a look at one of these files (or even better, can >translate it for me) I've posted it at >ftp://ftp.gisnet.com/pub/TDD_Boundaries_101205.mdb. It contains some >sale tax districts administered by MoDOT. > >- Bill Thoen > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 18274 ********************************************************************** Any opinions expressed in the email are those of the individual and not necessarily the company. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any dissemination, distribution, copying or use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, or if you are concerned with the content of this email please e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The contents of an attachment to this e-mail may contain software viruses which could damage your own computer system. While the sender has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise this risk, we cannot accept liability for any damage which you sustain as a result of software viruses. You should carry out your own virus checks before opening any attachments to this e-mail. ********************************************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 18275
