Convert functions using *uchar serializations to use LWGEOM

[pramsey]

In order to convert the whole code base to GSERIALIZED, we first have to localize the use of serialized forms to the serialize/deserialize steps. As a side benefit, code that uses the structs *should* be a lot easier to understand. One wrinkle: one of the most important functions that works directly against serialized forms is the parser. Touching the parser is scary business, but perhaps worth it.

[nicklas]

changing som distance functions to LWGEOM use

[nicklas]

I have tried to push the *uchar use out of measures.c in the attached patch

It builds and passes cunit and regression tests in windows and linux64

Maybe someone could take a look before it goes into trunk.

/Nicklas

[mcayland]

+1 with this approach - you've absolutely got it, deserialize as early as possible, serialize as late as possible. I'd be quite happy for all of the geometry functions that take SERIALIZED_FORM to disappear. In fact, when you think about you'll see that serialized form and deserialized form are simply input/output functions in exactly the same way as the GML/KML functions

[nicklas]

Ok, I take the chance a modified version of the patch is committed at r5807 to the trunk

there were a bug in SRID handling in the patch

/Nicklas