Kurt, You should pick up a good postgresql book. I recommend "PostgreSQL: A comprehensive guide to building, programing and administering PostgreSQL databases," by Korry and Susan Douglas, but I'm sure there are at least a few others that deserve your attention. Make sure the revision covers through PostgreSQL 8.1. A book like the aforementioned will help you solve any database issue you may have.
Additionally, the PostGIS documentation will walk you through creating a spatial database instance, setting up one or more PostGIS user accounts (and their roles), and installing PostGIS stored procedures, data types, etc. Keep in mind that PostGIS is simply an application server built for PostgreSQL with a back end interface to PostgreSQL and a front side interface for spatial queries. I don't agree that either Filemaker or Access are 'turnkey', nor are they ideal client-server databases or truly relational (varying levels of support for things like referential integrity, rollback, transaction processing, data locking, etc). With PostgreSQL, no longer will you need to create mirrored copies of your data (one for desktop, another for laptop, etc), and instead be able to access the data remotely (assuming the Postgres server is accessible through a network interface). Again, the aforementioned text will help you understand the requirements for configuring PostgreSQL server to work over a network with any number of interfaces (e.g., ODBC, JDBC, etc.). Turnkey implies to me an end-user application ready to solve a problem out of the box, a POS for example. None of the above do that, including PostgreSQL, (unless your needs fit neatly into the 'Northwinds' application). As a side, if I were going to be using PostgreSQL/PostGIS for archaeological type applications, the first person I would contact would be Michael Barton, a lead GRASS developer and Anthropology Professor at Arizona State University (http://www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton). You may very well even find an existing (object or relational) data model that fits your needs nicely. Jack Varga Kurt Springs wrote: > Hi folks, > > I have finally gotten postgresql and postgis installed along with > pgadm3 on OS X 10.4.9, which leaves me at the point of "What Now?" > > Keep in that my familiarity is with Filemaker and Access, which, I am > sure every one will agree, are fairly "turn key" as the old expression > goes. Potgresql is another matter. I need someone's help get to the > next step. I believe passwords and permissions need to be sorted out, > then In need to create my data bases. I will need to create tables, > categories, populate the databases, and be able to edit the > information. Also, I need to be able to move the database file(s) > from my desktop to my laptop. Step by step instructions would be best. > > I am planning on starting work on my PhD research this summer, and > would like to use postgresql/postgis to create and maintain my > archaeological database. > > Anyone's help would be appreciated. > _______________________________________________ > Qgis-user mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.qgis.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user > _______________________________________________ Qgis-user mailing list [email protected] http://lists.qgis.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
