On Jan 2, 2010, at 10:00 AM, grass-user-request@lists.osgeo.org wrote:
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 16:37:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Rich Shepard <rshepard@appl-ecosys.com>
Subject: Re: [GRASS-user] Attribute table combination
To: grass-user <grass-user@lists.osgeo.org>
Message-ID:
<alpine.LNX.2.00.1001011631170.14985@salmo.appl-ecosys.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowedOn Fri, 1 Jan 2010, Lyle E. Browning wrote:
I'm trying to combine several attribute tables into one, or failing that,
get them into GRASS so that they can be queried. Is there an idiot level
explanation of how one takes a shape file and combines it with several
disparate attribute files such that one can then bring it into GRASS and
wreak havoc on the resultant dataset?Lyle,
I suggest that you don't want to combine all tables into a single table.
Rather, create a relational database (I suggest using SQLite) that holds all
the tables, one for each attribute category. You can learn about SQLite from
the Web site, <http://www.sqlite.org/>\. This rdbms creates a stand-alone
file great for single-user use. It's used by Mozilla, Apple, and a bunch of
other big names in software so you know it's a solid tool. It's a lot easier
to learn, install, and administer than are client/server dbms's such as
PostgreSQL.If you need to learn how to build a database (e.g., data normalization)
such information is readily available on the Web. SQLite is supported by
GRASS.Rich
To add to this, you can create multi-table (i.e., relational) queries and joins within GRASS using either command line tools or the new wxPython GUI.
Outside of GRASS, a handy free SQLite tool, SQLite Database Browser was just upgraded to Version 2.01 after 5 years of quiescence, and I found a good SQLite manager/browser for Firefox, SQLite Manager. Both are completely cross platform and simple to install and use.
The OpenOffice database engine also has tools to do this. I'm not sure, but GRASS might read the OO database via ODBC.
Michael
____________________
C. Michael Barton
Director, Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity
Professor of Anthropology, School of Human Evolution & Social Change
Arizona State University
Phone: 480-965-6262
Fax: 480-965-7671
www: www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton, http://csdc.asu.edu