= PostGIS and ArcSDE/ArcGIS  Articles =
== Issues / Gotchas / Confusions ==
The biggest problem with using PostGIS in ArcSDE is that you are forced to use older versions of PostGIS and PostgreSQL.

 * If you are running SP1 on ArcGIS 10.1 then you could run PostGIS 2.0 and PostgreSQL 9.1.3, depending on your OS.

Details: [http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/40553]
         [http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/system-requirements/10.1/index.html#//015100000075000000]

 * If you are running ArcGIS 10.1 then only PostGIS 1.5 and PostgreSQL 9.0 are supported. 

Details: [http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/system-requirements/10.1/0151/015100000075000000.htm ArcSDE 10.1 PostgreSQL/PostGIS system requirements]

 * If you are running ArcGIS 10.0 then only PostGIS 1.4 and PostgreSQL 8.3/8.4 are supported. 

Details: [http://resources.arcgis.com/content/arcsde/10.0/postgresql-system-requirements ArcSDE 10.0 PostgreSQL/PostGIS system requirements]  

 * If you are running ArcGIS 9.3 then only PostGIS 1.3 and PostgreSQL 8.3 are supported.

Details: [http://wikis.esri.com/wiki/display/ag93bsr/ArcSDE+PostgreSQL+Database+Requirements ArcSDE 9.3 PostgreSQL/PostGIS Database Requirements]

Second issue - really confusing so pay careful attention:

There is PostGIS geometry type and there is [http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//002p0000006s000000.htm ESRI ST_Geometry type] which is ESRI's specific flavor of OGC geometry they install in PostgreSQL and make the default. Read the tutorials to figure out how to not make it the default. These are not the same thing.  Of course we would prefer you to use PostGIS, and PostGIS gives you more options with working with other software (particularly Open Source). The ST_Geometry and related functions are stored in the sde schema. they call their data type st_geometry and PostGIS type is just called geometry.

They also have a raster type they call ST_Raster not to be confused with PostGIS 2.0 raster type.
Again different types.  More about ArcGIS ST_Raster type is discussed [http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//006z000000p8000000.htm ArcGIS 10: Installing the ST_Raster type in a local PostgreSQL database]. PostGIS 2.0 raster type is just called raster.

== Case Studies ==
These are Case Studies of using ArcSDE with PostGIS or moving away from ArcSDE:
 * [http://2010.foss4g.org/presentations/3155.pdf Moving from ESRI Oracle ArcGIS to PostgreSQL/PostGIS] Foss4G 2010 Barcelona Case Study of Natural Resources Canada move from an ESRI ArcGIS Oracle platform to PostGIS/PostgreSQL

== Tutorials ==
These are blogs and tutorials detailing use of PostGIS/PostgreSQL with ESRI ArcGIS 9.3+ and experiences

Bill Dollins has a great series on using ArcSDE 9.3 with PostGIS/PostgreSQL


 * [http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-1/ http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-1/]

 * [http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-2/ http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-2/]

 * [http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-3/ http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-3/]

 * [http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-35/ http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/using-arcsde-93-with-postgresql-part-35/]

 * [http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/postgresql-support-in-arcgis/ http://geobabble.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/postgresql-support-in-arcgis/]


Paolo Corti

 * [http://www.paolocorti.net/2008/06/06/spatial-database-for-postgres-and-arcgis-users-how-to-choose/ http://www.paolocorti.net/2008/06/06/spatial-database-for-postgres-and-arcgis-users-how-to-choose/]

Dave Bouman

 * [http://blog.davebouwman.net/2008/05/12/PostGISRound2ReadingTheManual.aspx http://blog.davebouwman.net/2008/05/12/PostGISRound2ReadingTheManual.aspx]


ESRI Articles and White Papers

 * [http://www.esri.com/news/podcasts/transcripts/introducingarcsdeimplementationforpostgresql.pdf Introducing ArcSDE Implementation for PostgreSQL Transcript]

 * [http://www.esri.com/news/podcasts/audio/instructional/introducingarcsdeimplementationforpostgresql.mp3 Introducing ArcSDE Implementation for PostgreSQL MP3 Video]

 * [http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/devsummit08/papers/working_with_the_geodatabase_effectively_using_sql.pdf Working with Geodatabases] - this is not specific to PostgreSQL/PostGIS, but covers sampling of Oracle, SQL Server 2008, IBM DB2, PostgreSQL SDE ST_Geometry, PostGIS

 * [http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=knowledgebase.techarticles.articleShow&d=35128 Installing HowTo:  Install PostgreSQL 8.3.0, ArcSDE 9.3, and PostGIS 1.3.2 on Windows]