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What is a solution for reading/writing a local datastore for QGIS?

I've got data that's too large for a shapefile, I need lengthy column titles, but don't want to be logging into a remote server. I've been giving Spatialite a good go but seem to bump up against limitations like not being able to delete columns plus it seems there is little development going on in this space. I use the QSpatialite plugin.

I'm thinking I should be getting in db views, but don't see any workflows there for Spatialite.

Is there another option for a FOSS local datastore?

PolyGeo
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BillW
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  • these words from Sandro himself `anyway please carefully consider just a couple of further details:
    • in SQLite implementing a Writable View is certainly possible, but critically depends on Trigger actions
    • in very few words: it's like walking on thin ice.`
     – BillW Apr 04 '17 at 06:35
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    I would stil suggest to use either SpatiaLite or GeoPackage. Keep Spatialite-gui available if you want to drop columns or create views. – user30184 Apr 04 '17 at 06:43
  • H2GIS is another single file GIS database. It has many nice features. Hardly anybody is using it. – user30184 Apr 04 '17 at 07:42
  • user30184, I spent some time looking there at H2GIS, but it is not able to connect to QGIS? – BillW Apr 05 '17 at 01:16
  • And now I can't seem to get SpatiaLite-Gui established on this machine!! Frustration. – BillW Apr 05 '17 at 01:19
  • No, QGIS can't connect with H2GIS. Orbit GIS and OpenJUMP can. – user30184 Apr 05 '17 at 04:14

1 Answers1

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How about a local PostGIS instance? PostgeSQL can be downloaded from https://www.postgresql.org/download/ to which a PostGIS extension can be created to make it a spatial database. Also recommended would be to download pgAdmin https://www.pgadmin.org/

See How do I setup a PostGIS database and open it in QGIS on Windows? which may help with the set up.

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Martin Hügi
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  • One additional point, Postgres is extremely powerful, and FAST! – Matt Apr 04 '17 at 08:37
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    Yes, I have had some experience with PostGIS, but the establishment, maintenance and lack of portability of that is a discouragement. Thanks – BillW Apr 05 '17 at 01:18
  • There is a portable PostGIS http://www.archaeogeek.com/portable-gis.html and http://www.postgresonline.com/journal/archives/172-Starting-PostgreSQL-in-windows-without-install.html – Martin Hügi Apr 05 '17 at 06:18
  • @BillW Did you come up with a satisfactory solution to a FOSS datastore? – Martin Hügi Jul 06 '17 at 21:11