mode etc documentation

[Fawcett, David]

Comments in-line


-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List on behalf of Stephen Davies
Sent: Tue 11/8/2005 8:55 PM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] mode etc documentation
 
G'day again.

A couple more questions please.

Where are the various mapserv modes documented?

I see references to map, query, scalebar, legend modes but cannot find
details of exactly what each one does and which mapfile entries are used and
whether there are any more modes available.

   DF:  Take a look at: http://ms.gis.umn.edu/docs/reference/cgi/controls  scroll down to 'Mode'

Where is the code that draws the "box of interest" on the reference map?

   DF:  http://ms.gis.umn.edu/docs/reference/mapfile/reference   

What is the relationship between map extent and reference extent? Are they
simply used to scale between the two images?   
   
   DF:  The reference extent defines the spatial extent for the reference map.  It doesn't have to be the same as the original map extent, but it makes sense that it is similar.  The EXTENT defined in your map file only sets the initial map extent, the extent then changes as you zoom in, out, and pan.  

Like Steven said, one of the easy ways to learn MapServer is to get a demo (http://cvs.gis.umn.edu/dist/itasca3.5.tar.gz) working and then modify it to fit your data.  There is also a tutorial at http://hypnos.cbs.umn.edu/tutorial/

If you haven't already looked at it, check out the MapServer New Users Page http://ms.gis.umn.edu/new_users

Good Luck, 

David.

Thanks in anticipation,
Stephen Davies