[Mapserver-users] dynamic mapfiles for many layers

[Daniel Morissette]

MapScript would be one way to solve your problem.  You could either
create completelayer definitions on the fly in MapScript, or simply
include a template layer with an empty DATA statement and fill the data
value using MapScript.

You could also do something similar with the mapserv CGI: include a
layer in your mapfile that has no DATA statement and set it via the
mapserv CGI URL using something like map_layername_data=... I'm not sure
of the exact syntax to use since I don't do that often myself, but it
should be in the docs, look for documentation on changing mapfile
parameters via the mapserv CGI URL.

Daniel



Matt Doggett wrote:
> 
> I currently have a prototype Web app running using ASP and Javascript to
> connect to ESRI's ArcIMS to serve up maps.  I am in the process of
> converting this app to using MapServer.  Here's the rub.my application
> has nearly 500 raster layers that are available for viewing.  The
> ASP/Javascript provide the dynamic ability for the user to select which
> raster the IMS should be rendering.  I noticed that MapServer has a
> limit of 50 layers in the mapfile, though this can easily be changed by
> recompiling the code.  But I'm thinking that there's probably a better,
> more elegant way to make these hundreds of rasters available without
> having hundreds of LAYER objects in a single mapfile.  So, I come to my
> question.is there a way to generate a "dynamic" mapfile that can be
> adjusted on the fly?  Or perhaps, the PHP/mapscript is the solution?
> I'm not sure.  Since I'm pretty new to mapserver, I thought I would toss
> this out to y'all and see what kind of responses I'd get.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> md
> 
> Matt Doggett
> Spatial Climate Analysis Service
> Oregon State University
> 316 Strand Ag Hall
> Corvallis, OR 97331
> (541)737-9153
> mdoggett at coas.oregonstate.edu
> 
> 
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