New install

[Stephen Lime]

Tom: You don't need ERDAS at all. ERDAS .gis files are usable with
the code included in the base distribution. There are a couple of 
potential gotcha's when building FreeType and LibTIFF. By default
both packages build shared versions of their libraries and these are
loaded when the mapserver is run. This can be a problem with some
web installs as the user the webserver is running as (eg. nobody) won't
be able to find the right libraries. For that reason I generally use static
versions. For LibTIFF that's no problem as both versions are built by
default. Assuming you're installing in /opt/TWWfsw remove all the libtiff.*
files except for libtiff.a from /opt/TWWfsw/lib. For FreeType you'll have 
to rebuild the package to get the static libs. cd to the FreeType directory
and type the following (again assuming installing in /opt/TWWfsw)

./configure --prefix=/opt/TWWfsw --enable-static --disable-shared

then do a make and a make install. Now you should be ready to build
the mapserver. Edit the Makefile and change the following lines:

TTF_LIB=-L./gdft -lgdft -lttf
TTF_INC=-I./gdft

to

TTF_LIB=-L./gdft -lgdft -L/opt/TWWfsw/lib -lttf
TTF_INC=-I./gdft -I/opt/TWWfsw/include

and

TIFF_INC=
TIFF_LIB=-ltiff

to

TIFF_INC=-I/opt/TWWfsw/include
TIFF_LIB=-L/opt/TWWfsw/lib -ltiff

Now do a make and things *should* build. Note that this assumes that there are some
directories called lib and include under /opt/TWWfsw. Once built you shouldn't need
any programming skills other than standard web/GIS stuff. Please let me/us know if
you need any help.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

(651) 297-2937
steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us

>>> Tom Potter <Tom.Potter at mt.usda.gov> 08/05 2:07 PM >>>
I have been searching for a way to put soil maps and associated data
tables on the web.  It looks like MapServer might do the kinds of things
I want.  I am the State GIS Specialist with the USDA-NRCS in Montana.  I
have lots of experience with GIS software but have not done much
programming.  However, I am willing to spend some time to try it out.

I am running Solaris2.7 on an Ultra 2/200.  So far I have downloaded the
MapServer software, symbols, and demo.  I have acquired FreeType and put
it in /opt/TWWfsw, acquired tiff-v3.4beta037 and compiled it with gcc.
I also have ERDAS 8.3 on this system.  I have not been able to compile
the MapServer software.  I am not familiar with the variable syntax in
the Makefile and can not seem to make it find FreeType, GeoTIFF, and
don't know where to begin making the ERDAS connection.

Questions:
1.  Anybody willing to help this neophyte fix the Makefile and get this
compiled?
2.  Do I need a lot of programming skills to make this work?
3.  I'm willing to learn, what would be some good reference materials to
pick up some of these programming skills?

Thanks!

Tom Potter
State GIS Specialist
USDA-NRCS Montana
(406) 587-6968
Tom.Potter at mt.usda.gov