on December 30, 2022

Exporting SQL Server .bak files to a shapefile?

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Turning SQL Server Backups into Shapefiles: A Human’s Guide

So, you’ve got a SQL Server database backup (.bak file) chock-full of spatial data, and you need to get it into a shapefile? I get it. We’ve all been there. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, but trust me, it can be done. It’s not a one-click solution, but with the right tools and a little know-how, you’ll be visualizing that data in no time.

Meet the Players

First, let’s break down what we’re dealing with. SQL Server is basically Microsoft’s powerhouse for managing databases. It’s where you can store all sorts of data, including spatial stuff like geometries and geographies. Think of geometry as flat-earth data (like a building footprint), while geography is for the round-earth stuff (like GPS coordinates). Then you’ve got the .bak file – that’s your database backup, a snapshot in time. And finally, the shapefile: good old trusty shapefile, the workhorse of the GIS world for storing points, lines, and polygons.

The Not-So-Direct Route

Here’s the thing: you can’t just magically transform a .bak file directly into a shapefile. It’s a multi-step process, kind of like baking a cake.

  • Restore Point: First, you’ve gotta restore that database from the .bak file. Think of it like unzipping a file. You’ll need SQL Server installed, and you can use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) – it’s like the control panel for your SQL Server. Or, if you’re feeling geeky, you can use T-SQL commands.

  • Data Mining: Once the database is back, it’s time to dig into that spatial data. SQL Server has special data types (geometry and geography) and functions to help you wrangle it.

  • Export Options: Now, for the export. This is where things get interesting. You’ve got a few choices:

    • OGR2OGR to the Rescue: OGR2OGR is your command-line Swiss Army knife. It’s part of the GDAL/OGR library, and it can convert between a ton of geospatial formats, including SQL Server and shapefiles. It might look intimidating at first, but don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it seems. Here’s a sample command:

      bash

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