[Gdal-dev] Maps in PDA

[Mateusz Łoskot]

Hi,

Hallgren Johan E napisał(a):
> 
> [..]
 > Now I’m looking at way to show maps in
> a PDA (PocketPC/WindowsCE).

Are you a programmer?
If you are, I'd recommend you to write your own control/wingow
to display maps.

> My first idea was to use MapServer because 
> the wrapper I have used is the csharp/SWIG option and it could also be 
> used to build a Windows app just as I want. The problem is that I don’t 
> think it can run on a PocketPC without recompile everything. 

Yes, "big" Windows is now the same as Windows CE.
Another problem is with compiler. Microsoft provides now eVC++4.0 based 
on VC++ 6.0 with many cutted off libraries. So, there is lack of many
libraries/headers from C runtime or C++ STL.
That makes porting work not trivial.

 > My next
> issue was to figure out how difficult it could be to recompile MS and 
> all is parts to the PDA environment, and my answer was that it’s 
> difficult. 

That's right.

 > Beside that I don’t know if the MapServer solution for
> displaying maps in a PDA is optimal, I think the aim with MapServer was 
> to create maps on the internet and not running as a single desktop app.


Yes.
I'mnot a MapServer guru, but I don't think it would fit on Windows CE 
devices well.

> Next I found the work /Mateusz Łoskot/ is doing to porting GDAL to the 
> Windows CE environment, that’s great. Could GDAL be the solution for me? 

Yes, I'm trying to finish port of the OGR (vectors) to Windows CE.
Next, I will port my company's applications from our own not-complete 
Open GIS implementation to OGR. So, OGR will be act as a data provider 
and Open GIS Simple Feature architecture.
Next, you need to write code responsible for renderiing (displaying) 
maps (overlays) in application window (GUI).
Now, I use common Win32 GDI API and it works well, I don't think you 
will need OpenGL or GAPI (Game API - DirectX-like engine).

> It raises some new questions:
> 
>  
> 
> ·         It’s not my dream to build logic for symbology and 
> classification. Is there any support for symbology and classification in 
> GDAL?

That's what I'm saying. You will have to implement it yourself.

> ·         Are there other options for my PDA issue I havent’t found yet?

What kind of maps do you need?
What kind of GIS functionality do you need?

You can buy commercial component like MapACE or something from TatukGIS 
but I'm sure it won't work together with GDAL/OGR.

> ·         Is it possible to compile MapServer for Windows CE?

Currently, I believe it will be a very hard work.
But in a few months Visual Studio 2005 will be released then you will
need modern C++ compiler for Windwos CE platform.
I believe this compiler will make it possible and easier to compile 
portable code running today on Win32 and Unix'es.
I think together with VS2005 Microsoft will provide many C/C++ libraries 
missing in eVC++4.0.

Cheers
-- 
Mateusz Łoskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net