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Several Software Announces Support for SQL Server 2008

posted by Satri on Wednesday November 14, @08:11AM   Printer-friendly   Email story  Permalink  Trackback URI  Slashdotthis  Diggthis  Del.icio.us
from the interoperability-can't-be-a-bad dept.
Microsoft Software VLSDB Data Sharing
All Points Blog did what I was going to do, to point out the several announcements for support of Microsoft SQL Server 2008, which includes new spatial capabilities. Here are the full press releases: Safe, Manifold, SpatialPoint, AWhere). In addition, there's MapDotNet Server 6.5 which will also support the new SQL Server. See also related stories below.

Related Stories

Microsoft SQL Server Spatial Plans [+]
All Points Blog links to an CRN article about Microsoft SQL Server plans in an interview with VP Flessner. From the article: ""You will see an investment in spatial indexing, geometry libraries. I want to do a good job supporting ESRI and other geo-spatial guys and make a good library available so if you can't afford those packages do good spatial analysis with out them," Flessner said. [...] When will that happen? The next four to six years, although he'd like to get more done "sooner rather than later.""
Geographic Data Support in Next Microsoft SQL Server 1 comment [+]
The Memory Leak blog informs us about geodata support for the upcoming Microsoft SQL Server expected in 2008. All Points Blog adds more details and links. From APB: "Spatial will be supported in the next release of SQL Server (code named Katmai) as system data types. Katmai is scheduled to ship in 2008 and will most likely be called SQL Server 2008. Katmai spatial will support two models: a “Flat Earth” planar data type and a “Round Earth” geodetic data type. The Flat Earth data type (GEOMETRY) will support the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Simple Features for SQL Specification with support for approximately 70 spatial methods/functions. There will be spatial indexes for both planar and geodetic data types."
Technology: Safe Software's FME to Support SQL Server 2008 [+]
Safe Software writes "“Safe Software continues to extend the power of our leading FME platform to address the broad spectrum of spatial ETL challenges that IT and GIS Professionals face,” says Don Murray, President of Safe Software. “We are committed to helping Microsoft SQL Server customers realize the benefits of tapping into their spatial and non-spatial data assets and are pleased to enhance FME to support SQL Server 2008.”" I deleted the rest of the press release, head here if you want it all. See also related stories below.
Virtual Earth for Mobile Updated, VE for China, 3D Building Models and More [+]
Here's a few recent geonews items regarding Microsoft Virtual Earth. First, Live Search for Mobile has been updated, including many new enhancements. Here's some details on Live Maps for China: "# Getting access to Chinese geo data is notoriously hard. Who are you getting the data from? Is it handled via a joint-venture? Where are your servers located? # Was the data allowed to leave China? What other restrictions were placed on the data and its use? # What are the issues surrounding showing images? Why would they be more concerned about their own population seeing them?" More on this expansion here. There's also a link to a Virtual Earth customer survey and technical presentations. And finally, a mean to know building height directly from Virtual Earth 3D building models.
Virtual Earth support for SQL Server 2008 [+]
Flat Out GIS has an article about this speculation. Here is there summary : "I’m comparing Google Maps versus Virtual Earth right now, and one of the deciding factors is spatial data support. With the upcoming release of SQL Server 2008 spatial support, will VE be able to read these new WKB and WKT types natively? I saw a news release from Microsoft indicating several partners have developed this capability for their products, but was looking for information on whether or not it will become part of the VE api. It would be a plus if VE could read SQL Server geometry and render them automatically without additional coding."

To get the link to the actual microsoft release, head on over to Flat Out GIS.
Technology: Manifold Users Conference Wrap-Up [+]
Spatially Adjusted offers a nice wrap-up of his participation at the Western U.S. Manifold Users Conference (January 18-19th, Phoenix, AZ). Here's the official website of the conference. From the entry: "So what did I learn? I saw a bunch of folks using Manifold.net to accomplish the same tasks that ESRI, MapInfo, FOSS software users are. They don’t drink as much kool-aid as you might thing in regards to Manifold and are very realistic about its pro and cons. They all had different reasons for ending up on Manifold.net and are very happy with their choice." Manifold 8.0 was released last summer, see also other related stories below.
Technology: Cross Comparison of SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL [+]
[this is old news from July and sharing it with our users to make sure they're aware of it] Spatially Adjusted linked in July to a BostonGIS article named "Cross Compare SQL Server 2008 Spatial, PostgreSQL/PostGIS 1.3-1.4, MySQL 5-6". Previous such comparison is over 1.5 years old, see also related stories below. From the associated blog entry: "A few people have been asking us what are the pros and cons of using SQL Server 2008 Spatial and PostGIS and as a Windows user, why would you still consider using PostGIS. Rather than simply providing some hand-waving saying "well if you just care about displaying data, then use whatever you feel comfortable with, but if you want to do real intensive sophisticated spatial analysis and geometric processing without having to purchase a bunch of expensive software, then PostGIS is probably better for you. Hell why must you think in either or propositions - just use both using the strengths of each.", we have tried really hard to quantify the similarities and differences between the 2 and to boot - we have also added in MySQL."
Getting Started With PostGIS and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Spatial [+]
Boston GIS offers a nice guide named Getting Started With SQL Server 2008 Spatial: An almost Idiot's Guide. Late last year, the same team published another guide named Getting Started With PostGIS: An almost Idiot's Guide. Regarding MS SQL Server 2008, the blog entry: "We have started to take a really hard look at what SQL Server 2008 offers. Aside from the usual stuff that makes a database lover's heart go thumpety thump - * More SQL constructs * Enhancements to Reporting Services * New expansion of SQL Server database storage to use filesystem for large document storage AKA (FILESTREAM storage) * Powershell integration * Introduction of sparse columns more suitable for datewarehouse type stuff * And of course introduction of spatial which makes a spatial database analysts heart go thumpety thump thump." See also related stories below, including a recent cross comparison of SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL.
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