MapServer productivity tools.

Thu Nov 2 12:00:28 EST 2000

Brent,
I have been wondering this same thing.  I would also like to try and start using mapscript, but have not been able to because I am limited to running our webserver on NT.  I am interested to hear what others have done on NT.  If I understand it right I think PHP is one route to go, but I am not sure how it is linked to mapscript or if it is at all.  This part is still a little fuzzy to me.

Brian

Brian Fischer
GIS Coordinator, Sherburne County
13880 US Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
ph. (763) 241-7006

>>> "Brent Fraser" <bfraser at geoanalytic.com> 11/02/00 09:07AM >>>
Has anyone been able to get mapscript running on NT?
If so, how?

Brent Fraser
bfraser at geoanalytic.com 
GeoAnalytic Inc.
#300 , 700 - 4th Avenue SW Calgary, AB
Canada T2P 3J4
Tel:  (403)213-2700 Fax:  (403)213-2707
www.geoanalytic.com 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Lime" <steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us>
To: <RAldridge at linuxstart.com>
Cc: <mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: MapServer productivity tools.

> I am working on an alternative to the ArcView method that uses MapScript
and Perl/Tk. Again all it needs is some others to help out. Nice thing about
this approach is the cross platform support (assuming mapscript can be
compiled everywhere).
>
> Steve
>
> >>> RAldridge <RAldridge at linuxstart.com> 11/01/00 16:52 PM >>>
> Steve,
>
> I agree that productivity tools for MapServer would be nice.  The ArcView
apps for producing .map files are a good idea.  However, many of us are
developing MapServer apps on Linux and I feel it would be nice to have a
tool that works in Linux.
>
> That being said, it seems to me that we should be able to develop a .map
file generator using ShapeLib with Python, PHP, C, or something.  You could
use it to build a "view" using available shapefiles, images, and symbol
files.  Once you have it looking like you want it, you could save the .map
file.  The .map file would basically correspond to the .apr file in ArcView.
I would hope that the tool would allow you to open existing .map files, view
them graphically, add/remove layers, change symbology, etc. and re-save the
file.
>
> I know all of this is easier said than done, but I can't see any technical
obstacles to doing something like this.  It's simply a matter of getting the
people with the appropriate skills interested in the project.
>
> Perhaps, we should look at existing projects (OSSIM, ???) and see if they
would be interested in providing for the functionality we need in their
projects.  Frank Warmerdam (ShapeLib) told me sometime back that he was
working on a "Shapefile Viewer/Editor" that would work on Linux.  Perhaps if
his app can load/view images and shapefiles, he could simply add
functionality to use MapServer symbol files and write out .map files.
>
> Keep us posted.  I'd like to see something developed in this area.
>
> Later,
>
> Robert Aldridge
>
>
> >Stephen Lime <steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us> wrote:
> >
> >>From ??? Fri Feb 19 09: 25
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> >
> >>Seems one of the biggest holes in the MapServer application is the lack
of tools for
> >>building and administering MapServer applications. Again this is an area
where the
> >>group at large can help out. I know folks are using ArcView to build
.map files. Cool,
> >>but why don't we get together and support a single version that is
distributed via the
> >>MapServer web site? Could those doing this contact me off the list and
I'll help
> >>facilitate it?
> >>
> >>Other tools? Cough 'em up and let's get an archive going. I've got
several MapScript
> >>tools for doing all sorts of things. I'm willing to reorganize the
site's utils section to get
> >>this stuff out there.
> >>
> >>I've alsobeen writing a client application environment to allow
higher-end applications
> >>to be easily created. The environment consists of an applet to display
images (it has a
> >>few other features) and a javascript library to manage coordinates and
layers. It tells
> >>the applet what image to retrieve and so on. Those components are just
about ready
> >>for use, sans documentation. The first app I've built on top of these
components can
> >>be previewed at:
> >>
> >>  http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/landview 
> >>
> >>You'll need version 4.5 or higher browsers to use it. (I haven't
investigated older ones
> >>yet) This type of software is what I'd really like focus on, but will
need help given all the
> >>other stuff that needs doing. This runs on top of the new 3.3.012 CVS
version.
> >>
> >>Steve
> >>
> >>
> >>Stephen Lime
> >>Internet Applications Analyst
> >>
> >>Minnesota DNR
> >>500 Lafayette Road
> >>St. Paul, MN 55155
> >>651-297-2937
> >>
> >
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