[Gdal-dev] Re: RFC 10

[Frank Warmerdam]

Geo Aspects Dev wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> i was rather hoping this RFC would help me to provide a kind of map 
> browser interface
> eg pass each file in a directory (or any file list for that matter) and 
> have GDAL/OGR driver say which it would be able to open, so i could 
> highlight (or make selectable) only those "genuine" map files.
> Not sure how that would work, if I needed to provide options/parameters 
> up front?

Tim,

Note, this is exactly what the Identify() method implemented for GDAL is
intended for.  It makes it easier for file browsers to know which files are
openable by GDALOpen(), and even what format driver applies but in a fairly
inexpensive way.

Unfortunately, nothing corresponding exists for OGR.  Rather that
reimplement the same concepts for OGR, I'd rather approach "GDAL/OGR
Grand Unification" where a common driver architecture is used for both.

But Grand Unification is a substantial job, and not one for which I have
seen client interest.

Best regards,
-- 
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I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org