Version 3.3 wish list...

[Stephen Lime]

Rotated labels for lines is on the todo. Real basic support is pretty
trivial. As pointed out in earlier messages to the list, the angle is
already be calculated.

The custom annotation you mention can already be done. You can
create layers that contain image coordinates rather than map coordinates.
There is a option called TRANSFORM, that when set to FALSE tells
the code not to convert the coordinates to image coordinates but rather
to leave them alone. This results in features that always appear in the
same spot in the map. You must create the shapefile (this will be real
easy in 3.3 with embedded features) yourself. I use the scripts in the
shapelib directory to do this. Then do something like:

LAYER
  NAME copyright
  TYPE ANNOTATION
  DATA cpyrght
  CLASS
    COLOR -1 -1 -1 # dummy color
    LABEL
      ...
    END
    TEXT "Copyright 1999 University of Minnesota"
  END
END

Remember the graphics file origin is the upper lefthand corner while map
coordinate systems use the lower lefthand corner.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

(651) 297-2937
steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us

>>> "Grzegorz Myrda" <mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl> 06/29 5:51 AM >>>
Hi,
I think adding features on-line as suggested by Cameron can be 
done without Java, only for point objects. After selecting 
mode=ADD and clicking on the map, new feature would be added 
to the specified layer.
Thanks to avoiding Java it would be still low-requirements system.
However adding line and polygon features would really need Java 
and much of work.

And what about line features labels rotated by angle calculated 
from line angle ?

Also one Map object parameter may be added to mapfile, called 
Description or somehow, to display any fixed text at the bootom of 
the map picture (map copyrights or something).

Grzegorz