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Complete newbie... I taught myself the basics of GIS on the job with ArcGIS 9.3. I have been plating with QGIS and have gotten the basics down on both. I am not well versed in the terminology related to all this, hence why I think I am confused.

As of now I simply import shapefiles and raster data manipulating them for each project. In reality I am only doing this to create maps for reports, etc and there is not a lot of analysis that needs to be done. Maybe once in awhile. FYI... I am a Landscape Architect, most may understand the type of maps I create.

If I understand correctly I can use Postgresql on my Ubuntu Server and then connect to it from QGIS on a client. In doing this I could set the data up so that once I connect to it the symbology is saved amongst other things? I hope that is a correct statement.

Is someone able to set me straight here? Maybe provide some tutorials, maybe some on proper installation and connections with Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS and Window 7 and Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop clients.

Thanks in advance.

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You don't need Postgres/PostGIS if all you want are default styles. Please clarify your requirements. – underdark♦ Mar 1 at 15:46
I guess that 1. I am looking to see if there is an equivalent to layer files in QGIS in order to speed up map creating time. 2. is there a benefit to moving all my data to PostgreSQL on a server. Ultimately I am trying to determine if I need to install and learn PostgreSQL and PostGIS for what I use QGIS for. – LandArch Mar 1 at 20:02
The stackexchange format is to ask one question per thread. If you have two questions, please open two threads. Also, it might be helpful to leave some info on what "layer" files do for those QGIS users not familiar with the concept. – underdark♦ Mar 1 at 20:25

closed as not a real question by underdark♦ Mar 31 at 20:08

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1 Answer

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PostGIS is a spatial extension to the PostgreSQL Relational Database Management System. PostGIS allows you to store spatial data like points, lines, polygons, etc. It also allows you to run spatially enabled queries on your data, things like return all the points that are within a certain set of polygons, or delete all features that are more than 50 miles from a given point, etc, etc.

In ESRI terminology PostGIS is an Enterprise database. It's just another way to store and work with spatial data. QGIS is a great way to display and/or analyze said data. The symbology you assign to the data is only stored in your QGIS project file, or in a QGIS style file. You can use attributes from your PostGIS layers in that symbology, but PostGIS doesn't store the specifics of your symbology in the database.

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Spatially enabled queries are done in ArcGIS, no? So PostGIS allows a QGIS user to do similar queries? Is this a very simplistic description? – LandArch Mar 1 at 19:59
@LandArch PostGIS is one solution for spatial queries but there is QGIS core and plugin functionality which will let you perform similar or same tasks. – underdark♦ Mar 1 at 20:27
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Yes and yes. ArcGIS can do spatial queries, and so can QGIS. PostGIS allows you to do these queries in the SQL language. It gives you some incredible power and flexibility. Also, it allows you to do spatial analysis without a GUI interface. Check out some of the questions here what have the PostGIS tag, or google PostGIS queries to see what it can do. – HeyOverThere Mar 1 at 20:29

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