Multiple Layer Queries

Thu Sep 1 15:37:01 EDT 2005

Thanks Ken!

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, things got crazy at work, and this is the first chance I've had to take a look at your feedback.  I appreciate the broken down explanation.  You completely cleared things up for me!  I should be able to implement it by the end of the day.

Thanks again,

~Becky

PS  Great mapserver site BTW!

-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU]On Behalf Of Ken Lord
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 7:28 PM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Multiple Layer Queries

Hi Rebecca,

It appears you are using the CGI flavour of MapServer, which is also how I use MapServer.

The header / footer and results templates work as follows:  (at least the way I do it)

1.  you submit your query to mapserver, by clicking on the map (or sending query information via URL parameters).

2. MapServer parses together the results webpage, starting with the main Header file, which you use to layout the structure of the page, such as a title, the start of a table to show the results, whatever else you want at the top of your page, etc. 

3. For the first layer containing query results, MapServer parses the Header template you've made that is specific to that map layer,  the HEADER "xxx" parameter within a layer in your mapfile.
This header can be used to add the layer name, attribute names etc for that layer, and to layout the table structure specifically for the data that is retrieved for this layer.

4. MapServer parses through the TEMPLATE "xxx" file for the first layer that has results. think of this as a 'results' template. This file is processed once for each result found for that layer by the query, if you've set it up as a table, this template adds rows of results into the resulting webpage. 

5. steps 3 and 4 are repeated for any other layers that returned results.

6. MapServer closes off the webpage with the Footer template, where you can close off the html table, or add whatever you want to be shown beneath the results.

You list your main Header and Footer template files in the WEB section of your mapfile. Every layer for which you want to show query results must have its own Header and Template files. I find it convenient to name them to match the name of your layer, with a _header or _results appended to the end, such as soilassay_header.htm and soilassay_results.htm. 

The CGI values in your result templates need to be [UPPER_CASE] for shapefile layers, and [lower_case] for postgis layers.

It is a good idea to include a TOLERANCE and TOLERANCEUNITS for each layer being queried, some versions of mapserver have some funny quirks if you leave them out.

I would suggest that you take your existing  queryresults_template file, and split it out into the main Header and Footer files, and a header and template file for that first layer,  then copy and modify the header and template files to suit the other layers for which you want results. 

You can view how this system works for me at the following mapserver website:

http://24.87.220.99/ms/iwafs.html

... Click on the 'Highlights' tab at the top right of the page, and then view map number 3. Query the map with the ' i ' tool in a spot where there's lots of big and small point symbols close together. You should end up with a list of Soil Geochem and Drill Hole query results. 

Good luck,
Ken Lord
Vancouver BC

On 8/25/05, Rebecca Colwell < rcolwell at willcountyillinois.com> wrote: 

Hi Everybody,

I'm working on a new mapserver app after a long hiatus.  I'd like to query
two layers (Parcels and Zoning Districts)and have their attributes shown in 
the QueryResults_template.html.  I'm using NQUERY, but am still only getting
results from one layer in the results table.

I know this is not a new question, but I'm having a hard time deciphering
all the necessary steps from the tutorial, and haven't found the answers on 
previous list posts.  I don't understand header/footer files.  In case
that's part of the answer, please share their significance in the process.
Any help would be most appreciated.  I'll post my queryResults_template.html 
below in case that'll help unlock the mystery.

Thanks!

~Becky

<html>
<head>
<title>Airport Query Results</title>
</head>
<body>
<b><i><font size="5" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">2005 Will 
County Regional Airport<br>
     </font></i></b>
<table>
  <tr>
    <td width="300" valign="top"><br><p><font
face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><br> 
<img
src="/cgi-bin/mapserv?map=/home/colwell/public_html/Airport2/Map2.map&mapsize=300+225&mapxy=[shpmidx]+[shpmidy]&mapext=[shpext_esc]&scale=50000&state=[PIN]&mode=map"
border="1"></font></p></td> 
  </tr>
</table>
<br>
<br>
  <table width="331" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" height="167">
    <tr>
<td></td>
<td align="right"></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
<td>Parcel #</td>
<td align="right">[PIN]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr> 
<td>Owner(s)</td>
<td align="right">[OWNER_1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
<td>Address</td>
<td align="right">[STREET]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
<td>City/State/Zip</td>
<td align="right">[CITY],  [ZIP1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
<td>Township</td>
<td align="right">[TWP_NAME]</td> 
    </tr>
    <tr>
<td>Zowning District</td>
<td align="right">[ZONE_TYPE]</td>
    </tr>
</table>
<p></p>
<table width="331" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" height="98"> 
  <tr>
    <td>Sale Date</td>
    <td align="right"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Sale Amount</td>
    <td align="right"></td> 
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Acreage</td>
    <td align="right">[ACREAGE] acres</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td align="right"></td> 
  </tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"></font></p>
</body>
</html>

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