how to store spatial files in MySQL

Question

what is a better way to store spatial data in MySQL (say tracks) internally or as references to the external flat files?

Answer 1

I would reccomend against mysql if you want to store it as explicitly spatial information. Instead I would reccomend Postgresql/PostGIS if you want to stay with Open Source DB. MySQL barely implements any of their spatial functionality. If you read the doc closely most spatial functions are yet to be implemented.

If you are don't care about explicitly spatial information then go ahead and store it directly in the DB.

If you give some more background on what you want to do we might be able to help more

Answer 2

MySQL has a spatial extensions to store geographic objects (objects with a geometric attributes). More detail available there.