From cshorter at optusnet.com.au  Wed Sep  1 03:39:04 1999
From: cshorter at optusnet.com.au (Cameron Shorter)
Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 20:39:04 +1000
Subject: GIF Format Issues
References: <s7cbc0a2.033@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <37CD0248.15F2C88F@optusnet.com.au>

If you check out the slashdot article at
http://slashdot.org/articles/99/08/31/0143246.shtml
they say:
"And if you plan to create - or have already created - free
image-processing software that uses Unisys-patented LZW technology, you
might want to ask the company, very politely, for a giveaway license
that would cover non-commercial use of your product. I suspect that Mr.
Starr (who has final judgement in such matters) might just give you one
if you approach him correctly and you manage to convince him that you
aren't trying to burn Unisys with some sort of bogus giveaway deal that
is really meant to make you or your program's users rich while denying
Unisys shareholders the licensing fees that - like it or not - they are
legally entitled to collect if you try to earn a profit from your use of
their intellectual property."

I reckon you have nothing to loose to contact Unisys and ask to be able
to use the GIF format.

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> Greetings: At sometime in the near future a switch from LZW GIF to something
> else, PNG, JPEG or non-LZW GIF will be necessary. Unisys, the LZW patent
> holder, requires that software using it's compression technology be licensed. GD,
> the free GIF graphics library used within the MapServer uses LZW. GD was
> written well before all of these legal happenings and it's unclear what Unisys' stance
> on older software is. New versions of GD support PNG only so it's clear how those
> authors feel.
> 
> To make MapServer useful as OpenSource the reliance on LZW to end. GD 2.0
> looks very promising with support for PNG (up to 24bit), JPG and hopefully a non-LZW
> GIF format, but I've seen no timetable for a 2.0 release.
> 
> Anyone got any comments or ideas?
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
> 
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep  1 11:42:16 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 13:42:16 -0500
Subject: GIF Format Issues
Message-ID: <s7cd2d58.035@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

The University will pursue a non-commercial license I suspect. My worry is
more for those using this stuff within a commercial setting, but then again
it's their problem at that point.

Steve

>>> Cameron Shorter <cshorter at optusnet.com.au> 09/01 5:39 AM >>>
If you check out the slashdot article at
http://slashdot.org/articles/99/08/31/0143246.shtml 
they say:
"And if you plan to create - or have already created - free
image-processing software that uses Unisys-patented LZW technology, you
might want to ask the company, very politely, for a giveaway license
that would cover non-commercial use of your product. I suspect that Mr.
Starr (who has final judgement in such matters) might just give you one
if you approach him correctly and you manage to convince him that you
aren't trying to burn Unisys with some sort of bogus giveaway deal that
is really meant to make you or your program's users rich while denying
Unisys shareholders the licensing fees that - like it or not - they are
legally entitled to collect if you try to earn a profit from your use of
their intellectual property."

I reckon you have nothing to loose to contact Unisys and ask to be able
to use the GIF format.

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> Greetings: At sometime in the near future a switch from LZW GIF to something
> else, PNG, JPEG or non-LZW GIF will be necessary. Unisys, the LZW patent
> holder, requires that software using it's compression technology be licensed. GD,
> the free GIF graphics library used within the MapServer uses LZW. GD was
> written well before all of these legal happenings and it's unclear what Unisys' stance
> on older software is. New versions of GD support PNG only so it's clear how those
> authors feel.
> 
> To make MapServer useful as OpenSource the reliance on LZW to end. GD 2.0
> looks very promising with support for PNG (up to 24bit), JPG and hopefully a non-LZW
> GIF format, but I've seen no timetable for a 2.0 release.
> 
> Anyone got any comments or ideas?
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
> 
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep  1 13:44:02 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 15:44:02 -0500
Subject: more patent issues...
Message-ID: <s7cd49c8.004@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Seems the FreeType package may be violating some patents held
by Apple. FreeType, nor TrueType font support will go away, but
depending on Apple's responses to developers questions regarding
these issues we have to move to a new, inferior version. What next...

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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



From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Wed Sep  1 14:04:19 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 15:04:19 -0600 
Subject: more patent issues... :-)
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C43@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

Hope you all haven't seen this before. I got a laugh.

Trevor

>REDMOND, WA--In what CEO Bill Gates called "an unfortunate but
>necessary step to protect our intellectual property from theft and
>exploitation by competitors," the Microsoft Corporation patented
>the numbers one and zero Monday.
>
>With the patent, Microsoft's rivals are prohibited from manufacturing
>or selling products containing zeroes and ones--the mathematical
>building blocks of all computer languages and programs--unless a
>royalty fee of 10 cents per digit used is paid to the software giant.
>
>"Microsoft has been using the binary system of ones and zeroes
>ever since its inception in 1975," Gates told reporters. "For years,
>in the interest of the overall health of the computer industry, we
>permitted the free and unfettered use of our proprietary numeric
>systems. However, changing marketplace conditions and the
>increasingly predatory practices of certain competitors now leave
>us with no choice but to seek compensation for the use of our
>numerals."
>
>A number of major Silicon Valley players, including Apple
>Computer, Netscape and Sun Microsystems, said they will
>challenge the Microsoft patent as monopolistic and anti-
>competitive, claiming that the 10-cent-per-digit licensing fee would
>bankrupt them instantly.
>
>"While, technically, Java is a complex system of algorithms used to
>create a platform-independent programming environment, it is, at
>its core, just a string of trillions of ones and zeroes," said Sun
>Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy, whose company created the
>Java programming environment used in many Internet applications.
>"The licensing fees we'd have to pay Microsoft every day would be
>approximately 327,000 times the total net worth of this company."
>
>"If this patent holds up in federal court, Apple will have no choice
but
>
>to convert to analog," said Apple interim CEO Steve Jobs, "and I
>have serious doubts whether this company would be able to remain
>competitive selling pedal-operated computers running software off
>vinyl LPs."
>
>As a result of the Microsoft patent, many other companies have
>begun radically revising their product lines: Database manufacturer
>Oracle has embarked on a crash program to develop "an abacus
>for the next millennium." Novell, whose communications and
>networking systems are also subject to Microsoft licensing fees, is
>working with top animal trainers on a chimpanzee-based message-
>transmission system. Hewlett-Packard is developing a
>revolutionary new steam-powered printer.
>
>Despite the swarm of protest, Gates is standing his ground,
>maintaining that ones and zeroes are the undisputed property of
>Microsoft.
>
>"We will vigorously enforce our patents of these numbers, as they
>are legally ours," Gates said. "Among Microsoft's vast historical
>archives are Sanskrit cuneiform tablets from 1800 B.C. clearly
>showing ones and a symbol known as 'sunya,' or nothing. We also
>own: papyrus scrolls written by Pythagoras himself in which he
>explains the idea of singular notation, or 'one'; early tracts by
>Mohammed ibn Musa al Kwarizimi explaining the concept of al-sifr,
>or 'the cipher'; original mathematical manuscripts by Heisenberg,
>Einstein and Planck; and a signed first-edition copy of Jean-Paul
>Sartre's Being And Nothingness. Should the need arise, Microsoft
>will have no difficulty proving to the Justice Department or anyone
>else that we own the rights to these numbers."
>
>Added Gates: "My salary also has lots of zeroes. I'm the richest
>man in the world."
>
>According to experts, the full ramifications of Microsoft's patenting
>of one and zero have yet to be realized.
>
>"Because all integers and natural numbers derive from one and
>zero, Microsoft may, by extension, lay claim to ownership of all
>mathematics and logic systems, including Euclidean geometry,
>pulleys and levers, gravity, and the basic Newtonian principles of
>motion, as well as the concepts of existence and nonexistence,"
>Yale University theoretical mathematics professor J. Edmund
>Lattimore said. "In other words, pretty much everything."
>
>Lattimore said that the only mathematical constructs of which
>Microsoft may not be able to claim ownership are infinity and
>transcendental numbers like pi. Microsoft lawyers are expected to
>file liens on infinity and pi this week.
>
>Microsoft has not yet announced whether it will charge a user fee to
>individuals who wish to engage in such mathematically rooted
>motions as walking, stretching and smiling.
>
>In an address beamed live to billions of people around the globe
>Monday, Gates expressed confidence that his company's latest
>move will, ultimately, benefit all humankind.
>
>"Think of this as a partnership," Gates said. "Like the ones and
>zeroes of the binary code itself, we must all work together to make
>the promise of the computer revolution a reality. As the world's
>richest, most powerful software company, Microsoft is number one.
>And you, the millions of consumers who use our products, are the
>zeroes."
>


From cshorter at optusnet.com.au  Sat Sep  4 00:54:54 1999
From: cshorter at optusnet.com.au (Cameron Shorter)
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 1999 17:54:54 +1000
Subject: Proposed modifyshp interface
Message-ID: <37D0D04E.BA46BE4D@optusnet.com.au>

Hi,
I'm planning to add a new mapserver utility.  The spec I propose is below. 
Any comments before I start coding?

shpmodify layer=layer_name
          [record_number=number]
          valid_field=valid_field_name
          [coord=(x,y) [,(x,y)...]
          [field_name=field_value field_name=field_value...]

  layer_name       : Name of layer to be added to.  If no layer is supplied
                     then an error will be returned.
  number           : Number of the record to be modified.  If record_number is
                     not supplied then a new record will be added.
  valid_field_name : If a record is to be modified, and the new record has
                     more coordinate points than the previous record, and
                     hence cannot fit into the record space then a new record
                     will need to be created and added to the end of the
                     database. The old record will become invalid. 
                     valid_field_name is the name of a boolean field which
                     will be set invalid (FALSE) if the old record becomes
                     invalid.

Cameron Shorter.


From cshorter at optusnet.com.au  Sat Sep  4 14:08:39 1999
From: cshorter at optusnet.com.au (Cameron Shorter)
Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 07:08:39 +1000
Subject: Opencontent licence
Message-ID: <37D18A57.1E33C705@optusnet.com.au>

I've wanted to set up map data that I create under an open source licence like
the gnu open source licence. http://www.opensource.org http://www.fsf.org/ . 
It basically says anyone can copy your program, and can enhance it, but cannot
sell your programs or improvements of it.

Steve, I reckon you should consider releasing mapserver under such a licence,
because as it stands I belive anyone could copy, slightly enhance, and then
add a copywrite licence  over mapserver.

Well, a licence has been set up for content which should be able to cover
mapping data.  Check out: http://www.opencontent.org/home.shtml

Cameron Shorter


From mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl  Sun Sep  5 12:44:29 1999
From: mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl (Grzegorz Myrda)
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 21:44:29 +0200
Subject: GIF Format Issues
In-Reply-To: <s7cbc0a2.033@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <000001bef7d7$118f8400$a3cb9e9d@g>

I have gd 1.3 which uses non-LZW compression. However mapserv probably needs
a little correction because there were some disturbances in the image after
simple exchanging all gd files to version 1.3 files.

>From the gd doc:
...
     Non-LZW-based GIF compression code.
          Version 1.3 contains GIF compression code that uses simple Run
          Length Encoding instead of LZW compression, while still
          retaining compatibility with normal LZW-based GIF decoders
          (your browser will still like your GIFs).
...

The different is in the size of output GIF.

Grzegorz

> -----Oryginalna wiadomo??-----
> Od: owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> [mailto:owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu]W imieniu Stephen Lime
> Wys?ano: 31 sierpnia 1999 18:46
> Do: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> Temat: GIF Format Issues
>
>
> Greetings: At sometime in the near future a switch from LZW GIF
> to something
> else, PNG, JPEG or non-LZW GIF will be necessary. Unisys, the LZW patent
> holder, requires that software using it's compression technology
> be licensed. GD,
> the free GIF graphics library used within the MapServer uses LZW. GD was
> written well before all of these legal happenings and it's
> unclear what Unisys' stance
> on older software is. New versions of GD support PNG only so it's
> clear how those
> authors feel.
>
> To make MapServer useful as OpenSource the reliance on LZW to end. GD 2.0
> looks very promising with support for PNG (up to 24bit), JPG and
> hopefully a non-LZW
> GIF format, but I've seen no timetable for a 2.0 release.
>
> Anyone got any comments or ideas?
>
> Steve
>
>
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
>
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us
>
>



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Tue Sep  7 08:01:58 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 10:01:58 -0500
Subject: GIF Format Issues
Message-ID: <s7d4e2a5.089@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

For some reason the GD pulled the non-LZW GIF code from GD 1.6 etc.
Don't know why. It may be nice way to provide PNG and GIF. ImageMagick
also has a non-LZW GIF encoder. Grzegorz: any feel for increase in size?

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> "Grzegorz Myrda" <mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl> 09/05 2:44 PM >>>
I have gd 1.3 which uses non-LZW compression. However mapserv probably needs
a little correction because there were some disturbances in the image after
simple exchanging all gd files to version 1.3 files.

>From the gd doc:
...
     Non-LZW-based GIF compression code.
          Version 1.3 contains GIF compression code that uses simple Run
          Length Encoding instead of LZW compression, while still
          retaining compatibility with normal LZW-based GIF decoders
          (your browser will still like your GIFs).
...

The different is in the size of output GIF.

Grzegorz

> -----Oryginalna wiadomo*?-----
> Od: owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu 
> [mailto:owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu]W imieniu Stephen Lime
> Wys?ano: 31 sierpnia 1999 18:46
> Do: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu 
> Temat: GIF Format Issues
>
>
> Greetings: At sometime in the near future a switch from LZW GIF
> to something
> else, PNG, JPEG or non-LZW GIF will be necessary. Unisys, the LZW patent
> holder, requires that software using it's compression technology
> be licensed. GD,
> the free GIF graphics library used within the MapServer uses LZW. GD was
> written well before all of these legal happenings and it's
> unclear what Unisys' stance
> on older software is. New versions of GD support PNG only so it's
> clear how those
> authors feel.
>
> To make MapServer useful as OpenSource the reliance on LZW to end. GD 2.0
> looks very promising with support for PNG (up to 24bit), JPG and
> hopefully a non-LZW
> GIF format, but I've seen no timetable for a 2.0 release.
>
> Anyone got any comments or ideas?
>
> Steve
>
>
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
>
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us 
>
>




From mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl  Tue Sep  7 13:18:41 1999
From: mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl (Grzegorz Myrda)
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 22:18:41 +0200
Subject: GIF Format Issues
In-Reply-To: <s7d4e2a5.089@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <000001bef96e$2db66700$a4cb9e9d@g>

There is note in documentation of newest GD, that they are reinvestigating
non-LZW GIF coding from previous versions.
Output images are up to twice larger, but are "safe".

Grzegorz

> -----Oryginalna wiadomo??-----
> Od: owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> [mailto:owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu]W imieniu Stephen Lime
> Wys?ano: 7 wrze?nia 1999 17:02
> Do: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu; mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl
> Temat: Re: GIF Format Issues
>
>
> For some reason the GD pulled the non-LZW GIF code from GD 1.6 etc.
> Don't know why. It may be nice way to provide PNG and GIF. ImageMagick
> also has a non-LZW GIF encoder. Grzegorz: any feel for increase in size?
>
> Steve
>
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
>
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us
>



From imap at chesapeake.net  Tue Sep  7 22:04:40 1999
From: imap at chesapeake.net (imap at chesapeake.net)
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 01:04:40 -0400
Subject: GIF Format Issues
References: <s7d4e2a5.089@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <37D5EE68.E1166ED2@chesapeake.net>


Hey, Id sure like to preserve the ability to generate .GIF images
just like they are, but have the option of switching to .PNG or .JPG
or non-LWZ GIF if Unisys comes up with their hands out.  The .PNG change 
looks like a 1 liner, but compiling in both the old and new GD should 
prove to be a challenge.  As I recall, the uncompressed GIF images from 
GD 1.3 were huge.  

-Chris Stuber (imap at chesapeake.net)

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> For some reason the GD pulled the non-LZW GIF code from GD 1.6 etc.
> Don't know why. It may be nice way to provide PNG and GIF. ImageMagick
> also has a non-LZW GIF encoder. Grzegorz: any feel for increase in size?
> 
> Steve
> 
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
> 
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us
> 
> >>> "Grzegorz Myrda" <mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl> 09/05 2:44 PM >>>
> I have gd 1.3 which uses non-LZW compression. However mapserv probably needs
> a little correction because there were some disturbances in the image after
> simple exchanging all gd files to version 1.3 files.
> 
> >From the gd doc:
> ...
>      Non-LZW-based GIF compression code.
>           Version 1.3 contains GIF compression code that uses simple Run
>           Length Encoding instead of LZW compression, while still
>           retaining compatibility with normal LZW-based GIF decoders
>           (your browser will still like your GIFs).
> ...
> 
> The different is in the size of output GIF.
> 
> Grzegorz
> 
> > -----Oryginalna wiadomo*?-----
> > Od: owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> > [mailto:owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu]W imieniu Stephen Lime
> > Wys?ano: 31 sierpnia 1999 18:46
> > Do: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> > Temat: GIF Format Issues
> >
> >
> > Greetings: At sometime in the near future a switch from LZW GIF
> > to something
> > else, PNG, JPEG or non-LZW GIF will be necessary. Unisys, the LZW patent
> > holder, requires that software using it's compression technology
> > be licensed. GD,
> > the free GIF graphics library used within the MapServer uses LZW. GD was
> > written well before all of these legal happenings and it's
> > unclear what Unisys' stance
> > on older software is. New versions of GD support PNG only so it's
> > clear how those
> > authors feel.
> >
> > To make MapServer useful as OpenSource the reliance on LZW to end. GD 2.0
> > looks very promising with support for PNG (up to 24bit), JPG and
> > hopefully a non-LZW
> > GIF format, but I've seen no timetable for a 2.0 release.
> >
> > Anyone got any comments or ideas?
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >
> > Stephen Lime
> > Internet Applications Analyst
> > MIS Bureau - MN DNR
> >
> > (651) 297-2937
> > steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us
> >
> >


From ddnebert at usgs.gov  Tue Sep 14 06:22:49 1999
From: ddnebert at usgs.gov (ddnebert)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 09:22:49 -0400
Subject: TFW and WLD
Message-ID: <37DE4C29.DBEA202A@usgs.gov>

MapServer implemeters:

My global shaded relief TIFs come with a TFW registration file and the
demo
LANDSAT example uses a WLD file. I don't know what the translation or
exact meaning of the parameters are in either case.  Here are the
elements
as come with a global "geographic" projection TIFF file:

                   0.16666667535901
                   0.00000000000000
                   0.00000000000000
                  -0.16666667535901
                -179.91666666232049
                  89.91667605005205

Is there another way to support these types of TIF or a means to
translate
them to an acceptable WLD file?

Doug Nebert
FGDC




From rob at socialchange.net  Tue Sep 14 06:27:42 1999
From: rob at socialchange.net (Rob Atkinson)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 23:27:42 +1000
Subject: TFW and WLD
References: <37DE4C29.DBEA202A@usgs.gov>
Message-ID: <37DE4D4D.C5550832@socialchange.net>

Hi folks,

is anyone planning a OGC Web Mapping Testbed compliant URL interface for
mapserv?

--
_______________________________________________________________
Rob Atkinson                        Email: rob at socialchange.net
Director
Social Change Online         Mob: 0419 202 973
6A Nelson Street                       Tel: +61 (0) 2 9557 6500
Annandale NSW 2038                     Fax: +61 (0) 2 9519 8940
Sydney, Australia       WWW: http://online.socialchange.net.au




From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Tue Sep 14 07:37:26 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 09:37:26 -0500
Subject: TFW and WLD
Message-ID: <s7de175c.026@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Haven't seen any specs for compliance yet from OGIS. The dog and pony
was just last week and I check the OGIS web site over the weekend but
just found the usual stuff, nothing new.

I see the mapserver potentially functioning as both a client and a server. That is, 
retrieving data for maps on the server-side (an OGIS client) and serving
maps via OGIS compliant URLs (an OGIS server). Lots of cool possiblities.

I do have virtually every mapfile parameter now changable via a URL and you
can define features within a URL. Not sure how this will jive with the OGIS 
work.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Rob Atkinson <rob at socialchange.net> 09/14 8:27 AM >>>
Hi folks,

is anyone planning a OGC Web Mapping Testbed compliant URL interface for
mapserv?

--
_______________________________________________________________
Rob Atkinson                        Email: rob at socialchange.net 
Director
Social Change Online         Mob: 0419 202 973
6A Nelson Street                       Tel: +61 (0) 2 9557 6500
Annandale NSW 2038                     Fax: +61 (0) 2 9519 8940
Sydney, Australia       WWW: http://online.socialchange.net.au 





From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Tue Sep 14 07:43:25 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 09:43:25 -0500
Subject: TFW and WLD
Message-ID: <s7de18d1.052@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Looks like what you need to construct a world file is already there. Cell
size is 0.16666667535901 and the upper lefthand coordinates are
the last two entries. Here's the corresponding world file (I might have
x vs y and lat vs lon mixed up).

0.16666667535901
0.0
0.0
-0.16666667535901
-179.91666666232049
89.91667605005205

Only other alternative is to use geotiff. A simple perl script could be
used to reformat your .tfw files.

Steve


Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> ddnebert <ddnebert at usgs.gov> 09/14 8:22 AM >>>
MapServer implemeters:

My global shaded relief TIFs come with a TFW registration file and the
demo
LANDSAT example uses a WLD file. I don't know what the translation or
exact meaning of the parameters are in either case.  Here are the
elements
as come with a global "geographic" projection TIFF file:

                   0.16666667535901
                   0.00000000000000
                   0.00000000000000
                  -0.16666667535901
                -179.91666666232049
                  89.91667605005205

Is there another way to support these types of TIF or a means to
translate
them to an acceptable WLD file?

Doug Nebert
FGDC





From imap at chesapeake.net  Tue Sep 14 15:22:57 1999
From: imap at chesapeake.net (imap at chesapeake.net)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 18:22:57 -0400
Subject: OGC Web Mapping Testbed
References: <37DE4C29.DBEA202A@usgs.gov> <37DE4D4D.C5550832@socialchange.net>
Message-ID: <37DECAC1.E40C2E06@chesapeake.net>


Rob, This is something I'd very much like to do.
I was at the OGC Web Mapping testbed demo last friday and 
it looks like things are coming along very well.

I will be going over my notes this next and will
open up some dialog about this specifically.   I spoke to
Steve on this very subject and am sending him some
overview documents in the mail.

Regards,

-Chris (imap at chesapeake.net)


Rob Atkinson wrote:
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> is anyone planning a OGC Web Mapping Testbed compliant URL interface for
> mapserv?
> 
> --
> _______________________________________________________________
> Rob Atkinson                        Email: rob at socialchange.net
> Director
> Social Change Online         Mob: 0419 202 973
> 6A Nelson Street                       Tel: +61 (0) 2 9557 6500
> Annandale NSW 2038                     Fax: +61 (0) 2 9519 8940
> Sydney, Australia       WWW: http://online.socialchange.net.au


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep 15 07:58:09 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 09:58:09 -0500
Subject: licence for code
Message-ID: <s7df6dd8.012@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>


> Hi map server community,

Hi back.

> I have a project that is trying to deliver the following things, how far
> will mapserver get me?

Some of your bulleted items look to be directly from a project proposal
and are a bit difficult to interpret, please feel free to correct my interpretations.
I've forwarded this reply on to the general mapserver users list. You may well
get additional opinions. Several other "aussie" users are part of the list as well.

> * Develop the system using open source code.

MapServer is opensource. We'll be posting a particular opensource license
on the mapserver home page in the near future

> * Not interpose any publisher or data management function that can
> impose restriction of access to data through "agent in the middle"
> requirements

You'll have to clarify this one for me.

> * Use standard Internet protocols and tools to enable users and their
> browser to locate multiple sets of data from multiple sources and assess its
> "value".

MapServer is about a basic as you can get. By basic I mean that it's core
is based on tried-and-true internet technology - CGI and its use imposes very
little in the way of requirements on either a client or a server. You can of course
delvelop much more complex applications using new technolgies.

MapServer can access multiple LOCAL data sources (i.e. shapefiles or images).
Distributed data access is possible within the OGIS or OGDI frameworks for 
distributed data access. This is a planned enhancement but no timetable has
been set for work on it.

> * Provide a method for users and computers to request that multiple
> sets of data, or parts therof, be transferred to their web browsers.

Define data. MapServer returns images, renderings of GIS data. In addition
attribute information can be may available to browsers through the MapServer
query functions.

> * Package the data, or selected parts of it, in a manner suitable for
> transmission via the Internet from its source.

Dunno, is a GIF or PNG a suitable package? 

> * Deliver multiple data packages to the web browser.

Again, if one layer is package then a map is a multiple data package? If your talking about
actual raw data bundles (zipped together) then the MapServer ain't the right tool. You can
use it as a front end for such a tool. See http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/.

> * Provide a means of integrating these multiple sets of data so that
> the user can interact with them as a coherent whole

Panning, zooming and querying maps built from multiple datasets are all possible within
a single interface.

> * Provide a means for the user to undertake the analysis, querying,
> map composition, value adding or data maintenance required

Query yes (some restrictions), analysis depends, map composition yes. Adding value and
data maintanence are not core functions. Next version will allow users to markup maps
with their own features, but these features are virtual in the sense that they only exist in
a URL. Attribute maintanence is easy (or hard in transactional environment) via standard
web/db technology. Actual feature editing and creation is being looked at by a couple of
users and is being implemented as a standalone extension.

> * Allow the users to save the GIS data that has been called up to the
> browser and view the GIS data that has been saved back into the viewer while
> off line

You can save images, again no raw data involved directly with end user.

> * Provide a means for any changes made to the data to be packaged and
> returned to the source system (or systems)

Again, well beyond current system. This and the next question are more for traditional
GIS systems. Perl extensions to MapServer, in combination with some other custom
code may provide some interesting possiblities.

> * Provide a means for any changes to be merged with the source data
set (or data sets)

> Is map server an open source or proprietary development tool?

OpenSource.

>   Susan McHattie
>  Executive Officer    
>   ____________________________________
>   IMROC
>   Level 11 Town Hall House
>   456 Kent St Sydney NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA
>   Phone: (02) 9265-9804 Fax: (02) 9265-9115
>   Mailto:smchattie at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au 
 
Steve


Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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


From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Wed Sep 15 11:40:08 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 12:40:08 -0600
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <s7df6dd8.012@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
References: <s7df6dd8.012@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <99091513333000.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>

howdy,

Normally I am loathe to issue a cry for help on matters that are trivial to
those who have RTFM :)  However, time has squeezed me into a corner that I
cannot wriggle out of.  I am not an GIS analyst, so much of this is still very
confusing.  I am a web developer working for a local county government in
Billings, MT USA.  We've been using ESRI's MapObjects and Internet Map Server
to develop a web based interface to the county's GIS information on Windows
NT(IIS4).  The tirade of expletives this software combination has caused me to
expell isn't worth repeating, but needless to say, these products have
occasioned me to explore alternatives.  A quick search on Freshmeat.net brought
me to MapServer and having viewed the speed and stability of the demo site, I
quickly became enamored.

I can get the demo setup and running correctly on my test machine which is
currently running Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 and Apache 1.3.9.  However, when I try
to use some of our shapefiles I get nothing but an Arctic Snowfield.  My map is
just a big, ol' white square.  I hope it is not too crass, but below you will
find a copy of my ystone.map file.  What am I doing wrong?

Thank you,
Jason Domina
Yellowstone County IS Internet Specialist



-------------begin ystone.map----------------------------

#
# Start of map file
#
NAME ystone
STATUS ON
SIZE 600 600
SHADESET symbols/shade.sym
MARKERSET symbols/marker.sym
LINESET symbols/line.sym
EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875 
UNITS FEET
SHAPEPATH /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data
IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255

LABELOVERLAP FALSE

#
# Start of web interface definition
#
WEB
  HEADER demo_header.html
  TEMPLATE demo.html
  MINSCALE 1000
  MAXSCALE 1550000
END

#
# Start of reference map
#
REFERENCE
  IMAGE graphics/reference_base.gif
  EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
  STATUS ON
  COLOR -1 -1 -1
  OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
END

#
# Start of legend
#
LEGEND
  KEYSIZE 18 12
  LABEL
    TYPE BITMAP
    SIZE MEDIUM
    COLOR 0 0 89
  END
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of scalebar
#
SCALEBAR
  IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
  LABEL
    COLOR 0 0 0	
    SIZE SMALL
  END
  SIZE 350 5
  COLOR 255 255 255
  BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
  OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
  UNITS MILES
  INTERVALS 5
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of layer definitions
#

LAYER
  NAME Sections
  TYPE POLYGON
  STATUS ON
  DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/sections
  CLASS
    SYMBOL 0
    OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
    COLOR 248 248 95
  END
END # Layer

LAYER
  NAME Townships
  TYPE POLYGON
  STATUS ON
  DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/towna
  CLASS
    SYMBOL 0
    OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 102
    COLOR 255 255 240
  END
END # Layer

LAYER
  NAME primary_roads
  TYPE LINE
  STATUS ON
  DATA /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/Y_ROADS
  SYMBOLSCALE 24000

  CLASS
    NAME "Roads"
    COLOR 128 128 128
    SYMBOL 13	
    SIZE 3
    MAXSIZE 5
  END
END # Layer

END # Map File


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep 15 12:39:55 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 14:39:55 -0500
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic
	Snowfields?
Message-ID: <s7dfafc3.011@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Boy, I need to setup an FAQ for blank maps. If you've got blank images
and not broken images then there are only a couple of (common) possiblities. (The
mapfile isn't much help without an example calling URL)

  - extents aren't right
  - path to data isn't correct
  - layers aren't turned on in the form/url

There are a couple of other possiblities related to multiple class definitions but no 
classitem defined, but that doesn't look to be the case here. Send me a URL or
a form and I'll try to help some more.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Jason Domina <jdomina at ystone.mt.gov> 09/15 1:40 PM >>>
howdy,

Normally I am loathe to issue a cry for help on matters that are trivial to
those who have RTFM :)  However, time has squeezed me into a corner that I
cannot wriggle out of.  I am not an GIS analyst, so much of this is still very
confusing.  I am a web developer working for a local county government in
Billings, MT USA.  We've been using ESRI's MapObjects and Internet Map Server
to develop a web based interface to the county's GIS information on Windows
NT(IIS4).  The tirade of expletives this software combination has caused me to
expell isn't worth repeating, but needless to say, these products have
occasioned me to explore alternatives.  A quick search on Freshmeat.net brought
me to MapServer and having viewed the speed and stability of the demo site, I
quickly became enamored.

I can get the demo setup and running correctly on my test machine which is
currently running Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 and Apache 1.3.9.  However, when I try
to use some of our shapefiles I get nothing but an Arctic Snowfield.  My map is
just a big, ol' white square.  I hope it is not too crass, but below you will
find a copy of my ystone.map file.  What am I doing wrong?

Thank you,
Jason Domina
Yellowstone County IS Internet Specialist



-------------begin ystone.map----------------------------

#
# Start of map file
#
NAME ystone
STATUS ON
SIZE 600 600
SHADESET symbols/shade.sym
MARKERSET symbols/marker.sym
LINESET symbols/line.sym
EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875 
UNITS FEET
SHAPEPATH /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data
IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255

LABELOVERLAP FALSE

#
# Start of web interface definition
#
WEB
  HEADER demo_header.html
  TEMPLATE demo.html
  MINSCALE 1000
  MAXSCALE 1550000
END

#
# Start of reference map
#
REFERENCE
  IMAGE graphics/reference_base.gif
  EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
  STATUS ON
  COLOR -1 -1 -1
  OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
END

#
# Start of legend
#
LEGEND
  KEYSIZE 18 12
  LABEL
    TYPE BITMAP
    SIZE MEDIUM
    COLOR 0 0 89
  END
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of scalebar
#
SCALEBAR
  IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
  LABEL
    COLOR 0 0 0	
    SIZE SMALL
  END
  SIZE 350 5
  COLOR 255 255 255
  BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
  OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
  UNITS MILES
  INTERVALS 5
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of layer definitions
#

LAYER
  NAME Sections
  TYPE POLYGON
  STATUS ON
  DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/sections
  CLASS
    SYMBOL 0
    OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
    COLOR 248 248 95
  END
END # Layer

LAYER
  NAME Townships
  TYPE POLYGON
  STATUS ON
  DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/towna
  CLASS
    SYMBOL 0
    OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 102
    COLOR 255 255 240
  END
END # Layer

LAYER
  NAME primary_roads
  TYPE LINE
  STATUS ON
  DATA /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/Y_ROADS
  SYMBOLSCALE 24000

  CLASS
    NAME "Roads"
    COLOR 128 128 128
    SYMBOL 13	
    SIZE 3
    MAXSIZE 5
  END
END # Layer

END # Map File



From mkrusmar at clayey.soils.umn.edu  Wed Sep 15 13:41:38 1999
From: mkrusmar at clayey.soils.umn.edu (Matt Krusemark)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 15:41:38 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <99091513333000.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>
Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.91.990915152701.1101H-100000@clayey>


Jason, Hello, I am also new to mapserver (one week, approximately).  I
also had the snow problem.  However, from my experience, it is definately
best to start out with one layer at a time and then add on (Thanks for 
your advice Paul :) - plug for my office-mate)  

There is a stand-alone command that is called 'shp2gif' that is like a 
de-bugging command.  It can be found in the ms_3.2 directory after 
installation.  

The syntax looks like this:  shp2gif -m state.map -o state.gif 

Running this on your mapfile will make a gif image of either 
snow or your first layer :) - hopefully your first layer.  If it does not 
run completely, it will give you an error message of what is not working 
so you can start to debug.  I kept my file very simple, not quite as 
complex as the demo (hey - it was complex for me anyhoo) and am going to 
then be adding layers to it.  

I wanted to make sure to get at least one layer working first. 

Just a suggestion from someone who made the suggestion to me-

-matt

Here is my map file:

#
# Start of map file
#
NAME STATE
STATUS ON
SIZE 600 600
SHADESET /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/ms_demo/ms_demo/symbols/shade.sym
MARKERSET /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/ms_demo/ms_demo/symbols/marker.sym
LINESET /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/ms_demo/ms_demo/symbols/line.sym
EXTENT 189783 4816309 761653 5472346  
UNITS METERS
SHAPEPATH "/usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/shp"
IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255

LABELOVERLAP FALSE

#
# Start of web interface definition
#
WEB
  HEADER /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/web/state_header.html
  TEMPLATE /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/web/state.html
  MINSCALE 1000
  MAXSCALE 100000000
END

#########################
# Start of reference map#
#########################
REFERENCE
  IMAGE /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/graphics/reference_state.gif
  EXTENT 189783 4816309 761653 547234
  STATUS ON
  COLOR -1 -1 -1
  OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
END

#
# Start of legend
#
LEGEND
  KEYSIZE 18 12
  LABEL
    TYPE BITMAP
    SIZE MEDIUM
    COLOR 0 0 89
  END
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of scalebar
#
SCALEBAR
  IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
  LABEL
    COLOR 0 0 0 
    SIZE SMALL
  END
  SIZE 350 5
  COLOR 255 255 255
  BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
  OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
  UNITS MILES
  INTERVALS 5
  STATUS ON
END

#
# Start of layer definitions
#

LAYER
  NAME county
  TYPE POLYGON
  STATUS DEFAULT
  DATA /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/shp/county
#  TOLERANCE 3
  CLASS
    NAME "County"  
    SYMBOL 0
    OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
    COLOR 248 248 95
  END

  QUERYITEM "Name"
  QUERY
      TEMPLATE /usr/people/mkrusmar/mapserv/web/county_query.html
  END
END

END
END # Map File




On Wed, 15 Sep 1999, Jason Domina wrote:

> howdy,
> 
> Normally I am loathe to issue a cry for help on matters that are trivial to
> those who have RTFM :)  However, time has squeezed me into a corner that I
> cannot wriggle out of.  I am not an GIS analyst, so much of this is still very
> confusing.  I am a web developer working for a local county government in
> Billings, MT USA.  We've been using ESRI's MapObjects and Internet Map Server
> to develop a web based interface to the county's GIS information on Windows
> NT(IIS4).  The tirade of expletives this software combination has caused me to
> expell isn't worth repeating, but needless to say, these products have
> occasioned me to explore alternatives.  A quick search on Freshmeat.net brought
> me to MapServer and having viewed the speed and stability of the demo site, I
> quickly became enamored.
> 
> I can get the demo setup and running correctly on my test machine which is
> currently running Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 and Apache 1.3.9.  However, when I try
> to use some of our shapefiles I get nothing but an Arctic Snowfield.  My map is
> just a big, ol' white square.  I hope it is not too crass, but below you will
> find a copy of my ystone.map file.  What am I doing wrong?
> 
> Thank you,
> Jason Domina
> Yellowstone County IS Internet Specialist
> 
> 
> 
> -------------begin ystone.map----------------------------
> 
> #
> # Start of map file
> #
> NAME ystone
> STATUS ON
> SIZE 600 600
> SHADESET symbols/shade.sym
> MARKERSET symbols/marker.sym
> LINESET symbols/line.sym
> EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875 
> UNITS FEET
> SHAPEPATH /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data
> IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
> 
> LABELOVERLAP FALSE
> 
> #
> # Start of web interface definition
> #
> WEB
>   HEADER demo_header.html
>   TEMPLATE demo.html
>   MINSCALE 1000
>   MAXSCALE 1550000
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of reference map
> #
> REFERENCE
>   IMAGE graphics/reference_base.gif
>   EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
>   STATUS ON
>   COLOR -1 -1 -1
>   OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of legend
> #
> LEGEND
>   KEYSIZE 18 12
>   LABEL
>     TYPE BITMAP
>     SIZE MEDIUM
>     COLOR 0 0 89
>   END
>   STATUS ON
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of scalebar
> #
> SCALEBAR
>   IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
>   LABEL
>     COLOR 0 0 0	
>     SIZE SMALL
>   END
>   SIZE 350 5
>   COLOR 255 255 255
>   BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
>   OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>   UNITS MILES
>   INTERVALS 5
>   STATUS ON
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of layer definitions
> #
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME Sections
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/sections
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>     COLOR 248 248 95
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME Townships
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/towna
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 102
>     COLOR 255 255 240
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME primary_roads
>   TYPE LINE
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/Y_ROADS
>   SYMBOLSCALE 24000
> 
>   CLASS
>     NAME "Roads"
>     COLOR 128 128 128
>     SYMBOL 13	
>     SIZE 3
>     MAXSIZE 5
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> END # Map File
> 

--------------------------------------------
Matthew G. Krusemark
Information Technology / GIS 
Dept. of Soil, Water & Climate
University of Minnesota
439 Borlaug Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108-6028
email. mkrusmar at gis.umn.edu
tel. 612-625-9737
http://soils.umn.edu/slal
--------------------------------------------





 





From sphillip at mail.esrp.org  Wed Sep 15 13:48:38 1999
From: sphillip at mail.esrp.org (Scott Phillips)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 13:48:38 PDT
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <99091513333000.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>; from "Jason Domina" at Sep 15, 99 12:40 (noon)
Message-ID: <199909152048.NAA18948@mail.esrp.org>

Jason,

I had this problem too the first time I used my own data with the demo.

My problem was that the extents were not right for my data.  The demo file
comes with map extents set for the demo data and has to be edited to fit
the extent of your data.

For anyone using ArcView, I wrote a small script in Avenue to give you 
a map extent for a shape file that you can copy and paste into your map 
file.  

If you are interested, I compiled it into an (very small) extension and
put it on the web at http://www.phillipsgis.com/dist/mape.avx

It puts an extra menu item called "Get extents" under the Theme menu in 
ArcView.  It returns a dialog box of the stuff you need to paste into 
your map file under "extents".

I wrote it during lunch so its nothing fancy.

I think I'm going to try to make small command line utility that will
spit out the mapextent of a shape file.  From the looks of the shpdump 
sample program in the shapelib, it looks like an easy task.  I'll post
it too if I get it going later.

Scott Phillips
sphillip at esrp.org

' --------------------------------------------------------------
' mape.ave  - an avenue script for arcview to get a dialog box
' showing the map extent to cut and paste into the mapserver
' map file.
' --------------------------------------------------------------

' The first half is taken from the "zoom to theme" system script

av.GetProject.SetModified(true)
theView = av.GetActiveDoc
theThemes = theView.GetActiveThemes
r = Rect.MakeEmpty
for each t in theThemes
  r = r.UnionWith(t.ReturnExtent)
end

' The rest just formats and shows the map extent in a report dialog box
' for copying and pasting

 minx = r.GetLeft.SetFormat("d.ddd").AsString
 miny = r.GetBottom.SetFormat("d.ddd").AsString
 maxx = r.GetRight.SetFormat("d.ddd").AsString
 maxy = r.GetTop.SetFormat("d.ddd").AsString
 theString = "extent"++minx++miny++maxx++maxy

--------------------------------------------------------------



> cannot wriggle out of.  I am not an GIS analyst, so much of this is still very
> confusing.  I am a web developer working for a local county government in
> Billings, MT USA.  We've been using ESRI's MapObjects and Internet Map Server
> to develop a web based interface to the county's GIS information on Windows
> NT(IIS4).  The tirade of expletives this software combination has caused me to
> expell isn't worth repeating, but needless to say, these products have
> occasioned me to explore alternatives.  A quick search on Freshmeat.net brought
> me to MapServer and having viewed the speed and stability of the demo site, I
> quickly became enamored.
> 
> I can get the demo setup and running correctly on my test machine which is
> currently running Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 and Apache 1.3.9.  However, when I try
> to use some of our shapefiles I get nothing but an Arctic Snowfield.  My map is
> just a big, ol' white square.  I hope it is not too crass, but below you will
> find a copy of my ystone.map file.  What am I doing wrong?
> 
> Thank you,
> Jason Domina
> Yellowstone County IS Internet Specialist
> 
> 
> 
> -------------begin ystone.map----------------------------
> 
> #
> # Start of map file
> #
> NAME ystone
> STATUS ON
> SIZE 600 600
> SHADESET symbols/shade.sym
> MARKERSET symbols/marker.sym
> LINESET symbols/line.sym
> EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875 
> UNITS FEET
> SHAPEPATH /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data
> IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
> 
> LABELOVERLAP FALSE
> 
> #
> # Start of web interface definition
> #
> WEB
>   HEADER demo_header.html
>   TEMPLATE demo.html
>   MINSCALE 1000
>   MAXSCALE 1550000
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of reference map
> #
> REFERENCE
>   IMAGE graphics/reference_base.gif
>   EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
>   STATUS ON
>   COLOR -1 -1 -1
>   OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of legend
> #
> LEGEND
>   KEYSIZE 18 12
>   LABEL
>     TYPE BITMAP
>     SIZE MEDIUM
>     COLOR 0 0 89
>   END
>   STATUS ON
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of scalebar
> #
> SCALEBAR
>   IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
>   LABEL
>     COLOR 0 0 0	
>     SIZE SMALL
>   END
>   SIZE 350 5
>   COLOR 255 255 255
>   BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
>   OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>   UNITS MILES
>   INTERVALS 5
>   STATUS ON
> END
> 
> #
> # Start of layer definitions
> #
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME Sections
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/sections
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>     COLOR 248 248 95
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME Townships
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/towna
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 102
>     COLOR 255 255 240
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME primary_roads
>   TYPE LINE
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/Y_ROADS
>   SYMBOLSCALE 24000
> 
>   CLASS
>     NAME "Roads"
>     COLOR 128 128 128
>     SYMBOL 13	
>     SIZE 3
>     MAXSIZE 5
>   END
> END # Layer
> 
> END # Map File
> 



From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Wed Sep 15 13:59:20 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 14:59:20 -0600
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SGI.3.91.990915152701.1101H-100000@clayey>
References: <Pine.SGI.3.91.990915152701.1101H-100000@clayey>
Message-ID: <99091515063603.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>

Steve, Matt, Scott,

Thank you all very much for the suggestions.  I think we're starting to track
the problem down, and I'm guessing it has to with how I compiled the mapserv
binary - hastily.    Matt suggested:


> There is a stand-alone command that is called 'shp2gif' that is like a 
> de-bugging command.  It can be found in the ms_3.2 directory after 
> installation.  
> 
> The syntax looks like this:  shp2gif -m state.map -o state.gif 

and when I run that on a one layer map file I get an error message claiming:

Error opening fontset /export/stlime/mapserv/ms_symbols/fonts/fonts.list

I have not created a font.list file.  Where should I create it and how do I
tell mapserv where is located?

Jason


From mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl  Wed Sep 15 15:00:31 1999
From: mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl (Grzegorz Myrda)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 00:00:31 +0200
Subject: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <99091513333000.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>
Message-ID: <000101beffc5$babde580$b2cb9e9d@g>

Additionaly (to Steven's advices), there must be properly set priviliges to
shapefile directory and all shapefiles. They must be "chmod-ed" to others.

Grzegorz

> -----Oryginalna wiadomo??-----
> Od: owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> [mailto:owner-mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu]W imieniu Jason Domina
> Wys?ano: 15 wrze?nia 1999 20:40
> Do: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> Temat: [beginner] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
>
>
> howdy,
>
> Normally I am loathe to issue a cry for help on matters that are
> trivial to
> those who have RTFM :)  However, time has squeezed me into a corner that I
> cannot wriggle out of.  I am not an GIS analyst, so much of this
> is still very
> confusing.  I am a web developer working for a local county government in
> Billings, MT USA.  We've been using ESRI's MapObjects and
> Internet Map Server
> to develop a web based interface to the county's GIS information
> on Windows
> NT(IIS4).  The tirade of expletives this software combination has
> caused me to
> expell isn't worth repeating, but needless to say, these products have
> occasioned me to explore alternatives.  A quick search on
> Freshmeat.net brought
> me to MapServer and having viewed the speed and stability of the
> demo site, I
> quickly became enamored.
>
> I can get the demo setup and running correctly on my test machine which is
> currently running Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 and Apache 1.3.9.
> However, when I try
> to use some of our shapefiles I get nothing but an Arctic
> Snowfield.  My map is
> just a big, ol' white square.  I hope it is not too crass, but
> below you will
> find a copy of my ystone.map file.  What am I doing wrong?
>
> Thank you,
> Jason Domina
> Yellowstone County IS Internet Specialist
>
>
>
> -------------begin ystone.map----------------------------
>
> #
> # Start of map file
> #
> NAME ystone
> STATUS ON
> SIZE 600 600
> SHADESET symbols/shade.sym
> MARKERSET symbols/marker.sym
> LINESET symbols/line.sym
> EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
> UNITS FEET
> SHAPEPATH /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data
> IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
>
> LABELOVERLAP FALSE
>
> #
> # Start of web interface definition
> #
> WEB
>   HEADER demo_header.html
>   TEMPLATE demo.html
>   MINSCALE 1000
>   MAXSCALE 1550000
> END
>
> #
> # Start of reference map
> #
> REFERENCE
>   IMAGE graphics/reference_base.gif
>   EXTENT 2106685.23181818 443164.375 2492152.01818182 823786.875
>   STATUS ON
>   COLOR -1 -1 -1
>   OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0
> END
>
> #
> # Start of legend
> #
> LEGEND
>   KEYSIZE 18 12
>   LABEL
>     TYPE BITMAP
>     SIZE MEDIUM
>     COLOR 0 0 89
>   END
>   STATUS ON
> END
>
> #
> # Start of scalebar
> #
> SCALEBAR
>   IMAGECOLOR 255 255 255
>   LABEL
>     COLOR 0 0 0
>     SIZE SMALL
>   END
>   SIZE 350 5
>   COLOR 255 255 255
>   BACKGROUNDCOLOR 0 0 0
>   OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>   UNITS MILES
>   INTERVALS 5
>   STATUS ON
> END
>
> #
> # Start of layer definitions
> #
>
> LAYER
>   NAME Sections
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/sections
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>     COLOR 248 248 95
>   END
> END # Layer
>
> LAYER
>   NAME Townships
>   TYPE POLYGON
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA  /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/towna
>   CLASS
>     SYMBOL 0
>     OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 102
>     COLOR 255 255 240
>   END
> END # Layer
>
> LAYER
>   NAME primary_roads
>   TYPE LINE
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA /home/httpd/html/mapdev/data/Y_ROADS
>   SYMBOLSCALE 24000
>
>   CLASS
>     NAME "Roads"
>     COLOR 128 128 128
>     SYMBOL 13
>     SIZE 3
>     MAXSIZE 5
>   END
> END # Layer
>
> END # Map File
>



From cshorte2 at csc.com  Wed Sep 15 16:06:07 1999
From: cshorte2 at csc.com (cshorte2 at csc.com)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 09:06:07 +1000
Subject: licence for code
Message-ID: <852567EE.003CE99C.00@csc.com>




Hi Susan,

Since I live in Sydney, I'm interested to know what project you have in mind.

I'm working on an interface to the mapserver suite of code that will allow a web
user to enter in a map feature.  It will probably be ready in 6 to 12 months
time (unless someone can convince me to give up my day job).

You should check out some of the things that Social Change Online
http://online.socialchange.net.au/ are working on.  They are developing an
interface where map owners give Social Change access to their maps via the web,
Social Change then adds all the map layers required onto one map and presents it
to the web user.  This is currently being developed for New South Wales.  I have
lost the URL of the project, but some of their works can be viewed at:
http://online.socialchange.net.au/sco/workbench/mapping/home.html

Feel free to give me a call if you want some advice.

Cameron Shorter (02) 9901-1596work.





"Stephen Lime" <steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us> on 16/09/99 00:58:09

To:   SMCHATTIE at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au, mapserver-info at lists.gis.umn.edu
cc:   AKEOWN at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au, mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu (bcc:
      Cameron Shorter/AUST/SUBCONTRACTOR/CSC)
Subject:  Re: licence for code




> Hi map server community,

Hi back.

> I have a project that is trying to deliver the following things, how far
> will mapserver get me?

Some of your bulleted items look to be directly from a project proposal
and are a bit difficult to interpret, please feel free to correct my
interpretations.
I've forwarded this reply on to the general mapserver users list. You may well
get additional opinions. Several other "aussie" users are part of the list as
well.

> * Develop the system using open source code.

MapServer is opensource. We'll be posting a particular opensource license
on the mapserver home page in the near future

> * Not interpose any publisher or data management function that can
> impose restriction of access to data through "agent in the middle"
> requirements

You'll have to clarify this one for me.

> * Use standard Internet protocols and tools to enable users and their
> browser to locate multiple sets of data from multiple sources and assess its
> "value".

MapServer is about a basic as you can get. By basic I mean that it's core
is based on tried-and-true internet technology - CGI and its use imposes very
little in the way of requirements on either a client or a server. You can of
course
delvelop much more complex applications using new technolgies.

MapServer can access multiple LOCAL data sources (i.e. shapefiles or images).
Distributed data access is possible within the OGIS or OGDI frameworks for
distributed data access. This is a planned enhancement but no timetable has
been set for work on it.

> * Provide a method for users and computers to request that multiple
> sets of data, or parts therof, be transferred to their web browsers.

Define data. MapServer returns images, renderings of GIS data. In addition
attribute information can be may available to browsers through the MapServer
query functions.

> * Package the data, or selected parts of it, in a manner suitable for
> transmission via the Internet from its source.

Dunno, is a GIF or PNG a suitable package?

> * Deliver multiple data packages to the web browser.

Again, if one layer is package then a map is a multiple data package? If your
talking about
actual raw data bundles (zipped together) then the MapServer ain't the right
tool. You can
use it as a front end for such a tool. See http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/.

> * Provide a means of integrating these multiple sets of data so that
> the user can interact with them as a coherent whole

Panning, zooming and querying maps built from multiple datasets are all possible
within
a single interface.

> * Provide a means for the user to undertake the analysis, querying,
> map composition, value adding or data maintenance required

Query yes (some restrictions), analysis depends, map composition yes. Adding
value and
data maintanence are not core functions. Next version will allow users to markup
maps
with their own features, but these features are virtual in the sense that they
only exist in
a URL. Attribute maintanence is easy (or hard in transactional environment) via
standard
web/db technology. Actual feature editing and creation is being looked at by a
couple of
users and is being implemented as a standalone extension.

> * Allow the users to save the GIS data that has been called up to the
> browser and view the GIS data that has been saved back into the viewer while
> off line

You can save images, again no raw data involved directly with end user.

> * Provide a means for any changes made to the data to be packaged and
> returned to the source system (or systems)

Again, well beyond current system. This and the next question are more for
traditional
GIS systems. Perl extensions to MapServer, in combination with some other custom
code may provide some interesting possiblities.

> * Provide a means for any changes to be merged with the source data
set (or data sets)

> Is map server an open source or proprietary development tool?

OpenSource.

>   Susan McHattie
>  Executive Officer
>   ____________________________________
>   IMROC
>   Level 11 Town Hall House
>   456 Kent St Sydney NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA
>   Phone: (02) 9265-9804 Fax: (02) 9265-9115
>   Mailto:smchattie at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Steve


Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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








From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Thu Sep 16 13:41:46 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 14:41:46 -0600
Subject: [SOLVED] Why does it look like a map of Arctic Snowfields?
In-Reply-To: <37E14254.69EDA877@sequia.edu.mx>
References: <s7df6dd8.012@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us> <99091513333000.02899@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov> <37E14254.69EDA877@sequia.edu.mx>
Message-ID: <99091615095000.01352@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>

MapServer Community,

The problem was a combination of several things.  Coming over from WINNT, there
are still some basic things I have not quite gotten aligned within my cranium. 
Like how to set permissions correctly! :)  Now whenever I use 'chown' I'll
be reminded of the 'clown' I felt like.  Once I got that and the map extents
set correctly, everything worked wonderfully.  I can't believe how helpful
everyone is here.  A great big THANK YOU! to everyone.


Jason


From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Thu Sep 16 14:09:56 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 15:09:56 -0600
Subject: How do you zoom to a search result?
Message-ID: <99091615281801.01352@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>

What type of approach do I need to take to get this type of feature?
Specifically, I want to know how to implement a search feature like the one in
the gallery site:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/compass

Even just a clue would help this clueless cowboy.  Also, if there isn't a faq
I'd volunteer to help create and maintain one.  If there is a faq, Where?

Thank you,
Jason




From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Fri Sep 17 07:17:50 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 09:17:50 -0500
Subject: How do you zoom to a search result?
Message-ID: <s7e2075b.029@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Here are the config files for the compass so you can see how it's setup. The list
of files include:

  - search.map: main mapfile for the compass
  - compass.html: main template file
  - wma.html: search result template for wma layer (Wildlife Management Area)
  - wma.map: mapfile for included maps in the wma.html search template
  - pwa.html: search result template for pwa layer (Public Water Access)

I'll gladly share other interfaces on the DNR site if anyone is interested.

No there isn't an FAQ, and I'd love to see one developed. Just haven't had
time to do it myself. I'll contribute in any way I can.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Jason Domina <jdomina at ystone.mt.gov> 09/16 4:09 PM >>>
What type of approach do I need to take to get this type of feature?
Specifically, I want to know how to implement a search feature like the one in
the gallery site:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/compass 

Even just a clue would help this clueless cowboy.  Also, if there isn't a faq
I'd volunteer to help create and maintain one.  If there is a faq, Where?

Thank you,
Jason



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From mcady at clh.net  Fri Sep 17 08:35:43 1999
From: mcady at clh.net (Mark Cady)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 15:35:43 +0000
Subject: How to define EXTENT
Message-ID: <37E25FCE.739EF3E8@clh.net>

Hi All:

   I'v gotten the demo to work on my Red Hat 5.2 system. (thanks Steve).
I am
trying to get up to speed on GIS since I'm a newbe on that.  I have a
question on EXTENTS.
I assumed that the coordinates were a datum like WGS84. I have looked at
the EXTENT in
demo.map and at my trusty aviation sectional and I don't understand how
to relate the two.
What am I missing? How do I relate lat. lon. to EXTENT. Also in my shape
files do I put in lat. lon.
or EXTENT coordinates.

  I know these are basic questions but I have searched around and have
come up empty
on answers.


TIA

Mark C.



From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Fri Sep 17 09:00:08 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 10:00:08 -0600
Subject: How do you zoom to a search result?
Message-ID: <21C13F62E824D3119A1A00104B6A37367DAE@yco-nt1.ystone.mt.gov>

Steve,

Wow.  Thanks.  This is great.  Looking through the code for compass.html  I
notice that the search function calls search.pl.  This is a perl script, no?
Could you share that as well.  I would be very, very, thankful.  

As far as the faq goes, I figure being really new, I'm going to have quite a
few of those "frequently asked questions".  Why not write the answers down.
I do anyway, else I forget them.  I'll try not to be too burdensome.  While
on the topic, what are some of the other frequently ask questions?

Jason



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Lime [mailto:steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us]
Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 8:18 AM
To: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu; jdomina at gl.ystone.mt.gov
Subject: Re: How do you zoom to a search result?


Here are the config files for the compass so you can see how it's setup. The
list
of files include:

  - search.map: main mapfile for the compass
  - compass.html: main template file
  - wma.html: search result template for wma layer (Wildlife Management
Area)
  - wma.map: mapfile for included maps in the wma.html search template
  - pwa.html: search result template for pwa layer (Public Water Access)

I'll gladly share other interfaces on the DNR site if anyone is interested.

No there isn't an FAQ, and I'd love to see one developed. Just haven't had
time to do it myself. I'll contribute in any way I can.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Jason Domina <jdomina at ystone.mt.gov> 09/16 4:09 PM >>>
What type of approach do I need to take to get this type of feature?
Specifically, I want to know how to implement a search feature like the one
in
the gallery site:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/compass 

Even just a clue would help this clueless cowboy.  Also, if there isn't a
faq
I'd volunteer to help create and maintain one.  If there is a faq, Where?

Thank you,
Jason





From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Fri Sep 17 09:03:40 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 10:03:40 -0600
Subject: How to define EXTENT
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C7D@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

As long as you are consistent you can use whichever system (decimal degrees,
meters, feet) you want. The map server doesn't really have support for DD
yet, I'm having to fake it out and tell it that I'm using kilometers, which
messes up the scale bar and zoom factor numbers. Use meters, kilometers, or
feet if you can. Whatever you choose, your extents must be in the same units
as your shape file.

You should be able to get some insight by looking at the "world file" that
came with your sectional. If you don't have one, you'll have to create one
so the map server knows where is the world to put it.

A world file should look something like this: (copied from one of Steve's
earlier mails)
This represents the whole world in Geographic format.

0.16666667535901
0.0
0.0
-0.16666667535901
-179.91666666232049
89.91667605005205

Hope this helps.

Trevor

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Cady [mailto:mcady at clh.net]
Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 9:36 AM
To: Mapserver Users
Subject: How to define EXTENT


Hi All:

   I'v gotten the demo to work on my Red Hat 5.2 system. (thanks Steve).
I am
trying to get up to speed on GIS since I'm a newbe on that.  I have a
question on EXTENTS.
I assumed that the coordinates were a datum like WGS84. I have looked at
the EXTENT in
demo.map and at my trusty aviation sectional and I don't understand how
to relate the two.
What am I missing? How do I relate lat. lon. to EXTENT. Also in my shape
files do I put in lat. lon.
or EXTENT coordinates.

  I know these are basic questions but I have searched around and have
come up empty
on answers.


TIA

Mark C.


From piero at innova.it  Fri Sep 17 09:06:19 1999
From: piero at innova.it (Pierluigi Vittori)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 18:06:19 +0200
Subject: How do you zoom to a search result?
References: <s7e2075b.029@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <99091717350900.00871@buzz.myhouse.net>

On ven, 17 set 1999, Stephen Lime wrote:
> Here are the config files for the compass so you can see how it's setup. The list
> of files include:
...
> I'll gladly share other interfaces on the DNR site if anyone is interested.

I am very interested, the interfaces on the DNR look great! I am
particularly interested in the place.pl script: can you share it too? Thanks.

Piero


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Fri Sep 17 08:29:59 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 10:29:59 -0500
Subject: GD versions
Message-ID: <s7e2220a.068@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Anyone got a version of GD the features non-LZW GIF's? I think
it was 1.5.  If so could you send it my way? Version 3.3 will support
GD 1.3 and higher including the new PNG stuff. I'll no longer be
distributing it with the source to avoid Unisys LZW patent issues. It'll
be your choice what version to use. So, if you want LZW GIFs hold
on to the version of GD you already have.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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


From mcady at clh.net  Fri Sep 17 10:34:06 1999
From: mcady at clh.net (Mark Cady)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 17:34:06 +0000
Subject: How to define EXTENT
References: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C7D@imager9.spaceimaging.com>
Message-ID: <37E27B8E.2CE8E7CA@clh.net>

Thanks Trevor:


Lets see if I understand it now!


  My trusty sectional is a paper map that non instrument rated pilots
use for navigation.
It did not come with a "world file" but it is at a 1:1,000,000 scale and
has navigation aids, roads, lakes, etc. on it.



Would this example cover one fourth of the world in decimal degrees?
(North of the equator and east of England)

0.16666667535901        - distance of one unit (pixel?)in the positive
direction (East)
0.0                                           - max X
0.0                                           - min Y
-0.16666667535901     - distance of one unit (pixel?) in the negative
direction ( West)
-179.91666666232049      -  Min X
89.91667605005205            - Max Y

If I want to create a map of aprox. the area of Minneapolis/St. Paul
the  EXTENT would be
(I'll show my work)

>From my paper map (Twin Cities Sectional - for you pilots)
                                Lat                Lon
NW corner is 45.5 N and 94W
NE corner is 45.5 N and 92.5W
SW corner is 44.5N and 94W
SE corner is 44.5N and 92.5W

EXTENT [xmin] [ymin][xmax][ymax]
EXTENT [94W][44.5N][92.5W][45.5N]
EXTENT[-94.000][44.500][-92.500][45.500]

for the .map file
EXTENT -94.000 44.500 -92.500 45.500

for the world file that goes with my raster layer ( mark.tif  - if it
was 600 X 600 pixels)

0.0025        - distance of one unit (pixel?)in the positive direction
(East) (94 - 92.5 ) / 600
-92.500     - Max X
44.500        - Min Y
-0.0025     - distance of one unit (pixel?) in the negative direction (
West) (94- 92.5) / 600
-94.00        -  Min X
45.500        - Max Y


Thanks for your help

Mark C.



From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Fri Sep 17 11:33:17 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 12:33:17 -0600
Subject: How to define EXTENT
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C82@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

That logic looks good to me. Just make sure that any shape files you plan to
use on top of the image are also encoded (or reprojected with PROJ.4) in DD.

One debugging technique I've used is to repetitively zoom out if I can't see
my map, eventually a few dots appear and I can zoom back in to see what went
wrong. The extents are coded into the URL, so you can check to see if the
map server agrees with your calculations.

Trevor

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Cady [mailto:mcady at clh.net]
Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 11:34 AM
To: Banister Trevor
Cc: Mapserver Users
Subject: Re: How to define EXTENT


Thanks Trevor:


Lets see if I understand it now!


  My trusty sectional is a paper map that non instrument rated pilots
use for navigation.
It did not come with a "world file" but it is at a 1:1,000,000 scale and
has navigation aids, roads, lakes, etc. on it.



Would this example cover one fourth of the world in decimal degrees?
(North of the equator and east of England)

0.16666667535901        - distance of one unit (pixel?)in the positive
direction (East)
0.0                                           - max X
0.0                                           - min Y
-0.16666667535901     - distance of one unit (pixel?) in the negative
direction ( West)
-179.91666666232049      -  Min X
89.91667605005205            - Max Y

If I want to create a map of aprox. the area of Minneapolis/St. Paul
the  EXTENT would be
(I'll show my work)

>From my paper map (Twin Cities Sectional - for you pilots)
                                Lat                Lon
NW corner is 45.5 N and 94W
NE corner is 45.5 N and 92.5W
SW corner is 44.5N and 94W
SE corner is 44.5N and 92.5W

EXTENT [xmin] [ymin][xmax][ymax]
EXTENT [94W][44.5N][92.5W][45.5N]
EXTENT[-94.000][44.500][-92.500][45.500]

for the .map file
EXTENT -94.000 44.500 -92.500 45.500

for the world file that goes with my raster layer ( mark.tif  - if it
was 600 X 600 pixels)

0.0025        - distance of one unit (pixel?)in the positive direction
(East) (94 - 92.5 ) / 600
-92.500     - Max X
44.500        - Min Y
-0.0025     - distance of one unit (pixel?) in the negative direction (
West) (94- 92.5) / 600
-94.00        -  Min X
45.500        - Max Y


Thanks for your help

Mark C.


From mcady at clh.net  Fri Sep 17 14:30:46 1999
From: mcady at clh.net (Mark Cady)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 21:30:46 +0000
Subject: How to define EXTENT
References: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C82@imager9.spaceimaging.com>
Message-ID: <37E2B306.EC4E5D7F@clh.net>

Thanks for your help Trevor & Steve I think I'm "over the hump" .
(for now)  ;-)


Mark C.







From ddnebert at usgs.gov  Mon Sep 20 12:45:24 1999
From: ddnebert at usgs.gov (ddnebert)
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 15:45:24 -0400
Subject: Zooming on images
Message-ID: <37E68ED4.5EFD9737@usgs.gov>

I have now four nice TIF images that I would like to use as backdrop to
other
data. The files are as follows with wld files that let them render fine
individually
at full extent.  If I try to set another extent in the GET request, I
still see the
whole world, rather than a zoomed in region.

shdrela.tif 640 x 320 TIF
shdrelb 2160 x 1080 TIF
shdrelc 4800 x 2400 TIF
shdreld 10800 x 5400 TIF

So I have two problems:

1. How do I make the registration correct?  I calculated the TFW files
as attached.

2. Once I can view one of the files, I'd like to set them up as a
cascade
of a single theme, broken by MINSCALE and MAXSCALE values.
Should the following work?

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrela.tif
  MINSCALE 5000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrelb.tif
  MINSCALE 3000000
  MAXSCALE 5000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrelc.tif
  MINSCALE 1000000
  MAXSCALE 3000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdreld.tif
  MAXSCALE 1000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

-------------- next part --------------
0.5625
0.00000000000000 
0.00000000000000 
-0.5625
-179.4375
89.4375
-------------- next part --------------
0.1666667
0.00000000000000 
0.00000000000000 
-0.1666667
-179.833333
89.833333
-------------- next part --------------
0.075
0.00000000000000 
0.00000000000000 
-0.075
-179.925
89.925
-------------- next part --------------
0.03333333
0.00000000000000 
0.00000000000000 
-0.03333333
-179.9666667
89.9666667

From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Mon Sep 20 12:58:50 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:58:50 -0600
Subject: New 3.2.20 code features?
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C8D@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

I noticed that version 3.2.20 was available for download, but didn't see an
announcement on the mailing list. Can someone summarize the changes?
 
Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trevor Banister, Sr. Application Designer
Space Imaging
12076 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
Phone: (303) 254-2175 Fax: (303) 254-2211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All the glossy brochures and PR budgets in the world can't disguise the
fact that nobody has solved the automatic programming problem. There is no
program that can take an English description of what you want done and turn
that into software."  --Philip Greenspun
 
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From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Mon Sep 20 13:10:27 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 15:10:27 -0500
Subject: Zooming on images
Message-ID: <s7e64e79.020@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Um, er... Scale calculations with DD data are broken. That is, since
x cellsize (no straight DD/in conversion) varies I didn't add the s
upport to calculate some average scale even though it's just an 
approximation. I got some equations  from the guys at Space Imaging 
and have added scale calculation support for DD units to the new 
version. With that version you'll be able to do exactly what you propose 
with the layer descriptions below.

** Note **

I'm interested in users opinions on this. Should scale for DD maps
be constant at a given zoom for anywhere on the globe (i.e. based
on cellsize in the y direction) or should it vary as you pan north or
south (i.e. based on the average cellsize in the x direction), or should it
be computed as some sort of average of the computed cellsize in
both directions? I'm leaning towards just using an average x cellsize
but am open to other points of view.

** end **

The scale problem only effect the minscale/maxscale piece but
you should be able to zoom in and out. (you'll have to pick an image
to use). You might try commenting out the minscale/maxscale stuff
and turning all rasters off except for 1 and see if that helps.

Got a "get" URL I can play with?

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> ddnebert <ddnebert at usgs.gov> 09/20 2:45 PM >>>
I have now four nice TIF images that I would like to use as backdrop to
other
data. The files are as follows with wld files that let them render fine
individually
at full extent.  If I try to set another extent in the GET request, I
still see the
whole world, rather than a zoomed in region.

shdrela.tif 640 x 320 TIF
shdrelb 2160 x 1080 TIF
shdrelc 4800 x 2400 TIF
shdreld 10800 x 5400 TIF

So I have two problems:

1. How do I make the registration correct?  I calculated the TFW files
as attached.

2. Once I can view one of the files, I'd like to set them up as a
cascade
of a single theme, broken by MINSCALE and MAXSCALE values.
Should the following work?

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrela.tif
  MINSCALE 5000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrelb.tif
  MINSCALE 3000000
  MAXSCALE 5000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdrelc.tif
  MINSCALE 1000000
  MAXSCALE 3000000
  OFFSITE 0
END

LAYER
  NAME shdrelief
  TYPE RASTER
  STATUS ON
  DATA shdreld.tif
  MAXSCALE 1000000
  OFFSITE 0
END




From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Mon Sep 20 13:16:13 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 15:16:13 -0500
Subject: New 3.2.20 code features?
Message-ID: <s7e64fd9.083@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Real minor changes. Legend offset fix is included as well 2 new web object
parameters for trapping errors in a nicer fashion than the general mapserver
error messages. The new parameters are:

  EMPTY [url]: URL to forward users to in the case of empty query results.
  ERROR [url]: URL to forward users to in the case of any error condition.

If neither are specified the regular old mapserver error message is shown. If
EMPTY is not defined is will be trapped by ERROR if it is defined.

URL's are used for redirection so they must include server name, port etc.

That's it, just those changes.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Banister Trevor <TBanister at SpaceImaging.com> 09/20 2:58 PM >>>
I noticed that version 3.2.20 was available for download, but didn't see an
announcement on the mailing list. Can someone summarize the changes?
 
Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trevor Banister, Sr. Application Designer
Space Imaging
12076 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
Phone: (303) 254-2175 Fax: (303) 254-2211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All the glossy brochures and PR budgets in the world can't disguise the
fact that nobody has solved the automatic programming problem. There is no
program that can take an English description of what you want done and turn
that into software."  --Philip Greenspun
 



From ddnebert at usgs.gov  Tue Sep 21 07:14:55 1999
From: ddnebert at usgs.gov (Doug Nebert)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 10:14:55 -0400
Subject: Zooming on images
References: <s7e64e79.021@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <37E792DF.D5887BC3@usgs.gov>

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> Um, er... Scale calculations with DD data are broken. That is, since
> x cellsize (no straight DD/in conversion) varies I didn't add the s
> upport to calculate some average scale even though it's just an
> approximation. I got some equations  from the guys at Space Imaging
> and have added scale calculation support for DD units to the new
> version. With that version you'll be able to do exactly what you propose
> with the layer descriptions below.
> 
> ** Note **
> 

It is after all alCartesian coordinate system, and should be treated 
as such.  You don't want special rules for some but not all data!  
In this vein, I expect that zoom or scale would be the same across 
the map.  Remember that all projections are approximations and 
unless you are using a real equal area projection, area will vary 
across a map. I really need to be able to determine the linear 
transform of the window to coordinates so that the java map applet 
can calculate lat-long coordinates from clicks in the frame. This 
should apply to all coord ref systems, shouldn't it?

> The scale problem only effect the minscale/maxscale piece but
> you should be able to zoom in and out. (you'll have to pick an image
> to use). You might try commenting out the minscale/maxscale stuff
> and turning all rasters off except for 1 and see if that helps.
> 
> Got a "get" URL I can play with?

http://130.11.52.178/cgi-bin/mapserv?mode=map&layer=elevation&mapext=-180+-90+180+90&map=/var/mapserver/global/global.map&mapsize=500+250

If I change the mapext, nothing changes.  I need that.  Zoom 
won't cut it for the query interface I need. Should be able to 
enter any window that is preferably 2x wide by 1x tall in degrees.
Just shows the full image.

Also, I am still unable to show a vector coverage on top of 
the image.  Is there a special call for order?  It is layer named 
boundary but it won't display.  I can also not zoom on it whereas 
the country layer (polygon) I can! So the problem seems to be 
with both raster and line data. Puzzled.

check:
http://130.11.52.178/cgi-bin/mapserv?mode=map&layer=country&mapext=-126+47+-122+45&map=/var/mapserver/global/global.map&mapsize=500+250

http://130.11.52.178/cgi-bin/mapserv?mode=map&layer=boundary&mapext=-180+-90+180+90&map=/var/mapserver/global/global.map&mapsize=500+250

http://130.11.52.178/cgi-bin/mapserv?mode=map&layer=boundary&mapext=-126+47+-122+45&map=/var/mapserver/global/global.map&mapsize=500+250



> 
> Steve
> 
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> MIS Bureau - MN DNR
> 
> (651) 297-2937
> steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us
> 
> >>> ddnebert <ddnebert at usgs.gov> 09/20 2:45 PM >>>
> I have now four nice TIF images that I would like to use as backdrop to
> other
> data. The files are as follows with wld files that let them render fine
> individually
> at full extent.  If I try to set another extent in the GET request, I
> still see the
> whole world, rather than a zoomed in region.
> 
> shdrela.tif 640 x 320 TIF
> shdrelb 2160 x 1080 TIF
> shdrelc 4800 x 2400 TIF
> shdreld 10800 x 5400 TIF
> 
> So I have two problems:
> 
> 1. How do I make the registration correct?  I calculated the TFW files
> as attached.
> 
> 2. Once I can view one of the files, I'd like to set them up as a
> cascade
> of a single theme, broken by MINSCALE and MAXSCALE values.
> Should the following work?
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME shdrelief
>   TYPE RASTER
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA shdrela.tif
>   MINSCALE 5000000
>   OFFSITE 0
> END
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME shdrelief
>   TYPE RASTER
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA shdrelb.tif
>   MINSCALE 3000000
>   MAXSCALE 5000000
>   OFFSITE 0
> END
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME shdrelief
>   TYPE RASTER
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA shdrelc.tif
>   MINSCALE 1000000
>   MAXSCALE 3000000
>   OFFSITE 0
> END
> 
> LAYER
>   NAME shdrelief
>   TYPE RASTER
>   STATUS ON
>   DATA shdreld.tif
>   MAXSCALE 1000000
>   OFFSITE 0
> END

-- 
Douglas D. Nebert
Clearinghouse Coordinator 
FGDC Secretariat	Phone: +1 703 648 4151	Fax: +1 703 648-5755	
Pager Messaging: 	http://fgdclearhs.er.usgs.gov/dougmsg.html


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Tue Sep 21 09:08:17 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 11:08:17 -0500
Subject: Zooming on images
Message-ID: <s7e76748.071@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Ok. Did some checking on how ArcView does it's calculations of scale
with DD map units. For a given window size scale is constant no matter
where you are in the world. Now if I can figure out the conversion factor
they use I'll add it to 3.2 and send a notice when it's available - sometime
today. Again, if someone has reservations, let me know.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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



From ddnebert at usgs.gov  Tue Sep 21 11:31:43 1999
From: ddnebert at usgs.gov (Doug Nebert)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 14:31:43 -0400
Subject: mapserver wishes
Message-ID: <37E7CF0F.931BC603@usgs.gov>

There are two mapserver functions that would be quite handy for me:

Near future:
1. A CSV-file-to-indexed-shapefile generator for point data.
I have a table with with coordinates, can make a comma delimited 
file with some text and coordinate fields. Don't want to have to 
use ArcView on-the-fly... Surely there are utilities lying about!

Further future:
2. The ability to request points, lines or areas pushed onto a 
delivered raster map from a client request. Example: I have a 
basemap but would like two rectangles drawn on it in the GIF. Folks 
may wish to push a point with text, too ("my house"). It could be 
structured into the GET request:

&linerect=(W+S+N+E,240+100+50,text="My+House",1)...

where the parens delimit a coordinate set of edges, a color triplet, 
a centered text string, and a bounding line width in pixels. Other 
possible types:

&fillrect
&linepoly
&fillpoly
&point
&circle 
&line

Multiple draw features could be permitted drawn in order of 
request.

-- 
Douglas D. Nebert
Clearinghouse Coordinator 
FGDC Secretariat	Phone: +1 703 648 4151	Fax: +1 703 648-5755


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Tue Sep 21 12:37:27 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 14:37:27 -0500
Subject: mapserver wishes
Message-ID: <s7e7984f.013@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Part 1) is real easy. Use a Perl script to access the text file
and make calls to the dbfcreate, dbfadd, shpcreate and shpadd
utilities in the shapelib distribution included with the mapserver.

Part 2) is a feature of 3.3 although with a different syntax. In 3.3
you can alter virtually any aspect of a map file from a url. The syntax
follows the hierarchy you normally see in a map file. 3.3 introduces
inline features, that is, features defined within the map file rather
than within a shapefile. So, from a URL you can create these inline
features as well. With MapServer features exist within the context
of a layer. Within that layer you might define feature type, symbolization
and annotation parameters. At present here's how CGI vars would
be defined for new features for a layer named users:

  map:users:feature=new /* creates a new feature */
  map:users:feature:points=50+50+...  /* add one set of points */
  map:users:feature:points=200+90+...   /* add a second set of points (multipart features supported) */
  map:users:feature:text=This+is+an+example+text+string  /* add text for annotation */

You can also specify a value that is used in conjunction with
defined classes. Colons are used to differentiate the object
hierarchy and so names can be used within Java or JavaScript
without conflict. This is just a first crack at this so there are likely
to be changes etc. There will likely be a shorthand naming convention
as well. As always, discussions on this topic are welcome.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> Doug Nebert <ddnebert at usgs.gov> 09/21 1:31 PM >>>
There are two mapserver functions that would be quite handy for me:

Near future:
1. A CSV-file-to-indexed-shapefile generator for point data.
I have a table with with coordinates, can make a comma delimited 
file with some text and coordinate fields. Don't want to have to 
use ArcView on-the-fly... Surely there are utilities lying about!

Further future:
2. The ability to request points, lines or areas pushed onto a 
delivered raster map from a client request. Example: I have a 
basemap but would like two rectangles drawn on it in the GIF. Folks 
may wish to push a point with text, too ("my house"). It could be 
structured into the GET request:

&linerect=(W+S+N+E,240+100+50,text="My+House",1)...

where the parens delimit a coordinate set of edges, a color triplet, 
a centered text string, and a bounding line width in pixels. Other 
possible types:

&fillrect
&linepoly
&fillpoly
&point
&circle 
&line

Multiple draw features could be permitted drawn in order of 
request.

-- 
Douglas D. Nebert
Clearinghouse Coordinator 
FGDC Secretariat	Phone: +1 703 648 4151	Fax: +1 703 648-5755



From wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au  Tue Sep 21 20:35:24 1999
From: wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au (Wim Brinkhof)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 13:35:24 +1000
Subject: Control the number of classes for a layer
Message-ID: <s7e8db2f.091@dlwc.nsw.gov.au>

I am a new user of the mapserver and have a problem defining classes for a layer.

I am trying to create a layer with 13 thematic classes using Mapserver version 3.217. Up to 10 it works fine. After that it repeats, displaying features using the first three class definitions again.

Has anybody encountered this problem before?
Is there a way to control the number of classes the mapserver can handle?


Regards,


Wim Brinkhof

Senior Internet Integrator
Information Integration and Coordination Branch
Information Management & Technology Division

Level 4
10 Valentine Avenue
Parramatta NSW 2150
PO Box 3720
Parramatta NSW 2124

Phone: (02) 9895 6193
Fax:      (02) 9895 7834
Email:    wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au
Internet: http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au
              http://www.nrims.nsw.gov.au/icmiss



From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Tue Sep 21 20:54:58 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 21:54:58 -0600
Subject: Control the number of classes for a layer
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C93@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

If you can provide your layer definition I bet you'll get more feedback :-)
The first thing I'd recommend is to upgrade to the latest version (3.2.20)

Trevor Banister
Space Imaging
> ----------
> From: 	Wim Brinkhof[SMTP:wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au]
> Sent: 	Tuesday, September 21, 1999 9:35 PM
> To: 	mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> Subject: 	Control the number of classes for a layer
> 
> I am a new user of the mapserver and have a problem defining classes for a
> layer.
> 
> I am trying to create a layer with 13 thematic classes using Mapserver
> version 3.217. Up to 10 it works fine. After that it repeats, displaying
> features using the first three class definitions again.
> 
> Has anybody encountered this problem before?
> Is there a way to control the number of classes the mapserver can handle?
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> Wim Brinkhof
> 
> Senior Internet Integrator
> Information Integration and Coordination Branch
> Information Management & Technology Division
> 
> Level 4
> 10 Valentine Avenue
> Parramatta NSW 2150
> PO Box 3720
> Parramatta NSW 2124
> 
> Phone: (02) 9895 6193
> Fax:      (02) 9895 7834
> Email:    wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au
> Internet: http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au
>               http://www.nrims.nsw.gov.au/icmiss
> 


From jdomina at ystone.mt.gov  Tue Sep 21 23:36:48 1999
From: jdomina at ystone.mt.gov (Jason Domina)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 00:36:48 -0600
Subject: Stereoscopic Image Problem
Message-ID: <99092200565200.00885@dp4p.ystone.mt.gov>

I've followed the threads on dealing with raster images from Trevor and Mark, but I still cannot make this work.  
I am trying to add some aerial photos we have of our county.  I have "tif world" files that look like this:

2.0
0.000000000000
0.000000000000
-2.0
2221481.6982
576820.5678

The map extent in my map file looks like this:

EXTENT 2114260 443164 2484580 823787

And yet when I initialize the mapserver and zoom  to the area where my image file should be showing up, the image
appears "Stereoscopic" like the attatched file.  Of course it is really late from where I type this.  Maybe my eyes have just
gone blurry.  In any case, what kind of clue-by-four do I need to be whacked with?
-- 
Jason Domina
IS Internet Specialist
Yellowstone County

http://www.ystone.mt.gov
jdomina at ystone.mt.gov
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From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep 22 05:55:00 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 07:55:00 -0500
Subject: Control the number of classes for a layer
Message-ID: <s7e88b6c.044@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Hi Wim: There is a hardcoded limit of 50 classes (which can be changed in map.h, look for MS_MAXCLASSES define) so your problem is most likely related to expression definition. Remember that MapServer expressions are regular expressions
and behave a bit differently. Consider the following 4 expressions:

"1"
"2"
"10"
"12"

Expressions 3 and 4 won't get used as anything containing a 1 or a 2 will get caught by the first 2 expressions. So if we really want to match numbers 1, 2, 10 and 12 as seperate classes we need something like

"^1$"
"^2$"
"^10$"
"^12$"

There are ton's of ways to write those expressions. Also note mapserv uses the first
match not the longest match.

Steve

<<< "Wim Brinkhof" <wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au>  9/21 10:32p >>>
I am a new user of the mapserver and have a problem defining classes for a layer.

I am trying to create a layer with 13 thematic classes using Mapserver version 3.217. Up to 10 it works fine. After that it repeats, displaying features using the first three class definitions again.

Has anybody encountered this problem before?
Is there a way to control the number of classes the mapserver can handle?


Regards,


Wim Brinkhof

Senior Internet Integrator
Information Integration and Coordination Branch
Information Management & Technology Division

Level 4
10 Valentine Avenue
Parramatta NSW 2150
PO Box 3720
Parramatta NSW 2124

Phone: (02) 9895 6193
Fax:      (02) 9895 7834
Email:    wbrinkhof at dlwc.nsw.gov.au
Internet: http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au
              http://www.nrims.nsw.gov.au/icmiss




From TBanister at SpaceImaging.com  Wed Sep 22 18:37:30 1999
From: TBanister at SpaceImaging.com (Banister Trevor)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 19:37:30 -0600
Subject: Map server doesn't compile with TrueType support off
Message-ID: <AEEF94298C10D311B5A000A024B359E1686C9B@imager9.spaceimaging.com>

I've been working on building a "license issue free" version of mapserver
without TTF and LZW gif support. I noticed that if you turn off TTF support
in the makefile you get a parse error when building it. I get the error on 3
platforms-- Linux (RedHat 6.x), Solaris 7, and cygwin.
 
Anyone have a fix for this? I've been trying code hacks, but nothing is
clicking yet.
 
Error detail:
 
gcc -c -Wall -O     -DUSE_TIFF -I./regex  -I./gd -I./shapelib   maphash.c
In file included from maphash.c:1:
map.h:514: parse error before `fontSetObj'
map.h:516: parse error before `fontSetObj'
*** Error code 1
make: Fatal error: Command failed for target `maphash.o'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trevor Banister, Sr. Application Designer
Space Imaging
12076 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
Phone: (303) 254-2175 Fax: (303) 254-2211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All the glossy brochures and PR budgets in the world can't disguise the
fact that nobody has solved the automatic programming problem. There is no
program that can take an English description of what you want done and turn
that into software."  --Philip Greenspun

 
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From mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl  Thu Sep 23 15:22:40 1999
From: mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl (Grzegorz Myrda)
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 00:22:40 +0200
Subject: distributed data
Message-ID: <000001bf0612$2689b440$b2cb9e9d@g>

Some weeks ago Steven wrote something about balancing.
May it be used to make a map from shapefiles located at different servers
(each with mapserv), on joining GIFs (as layers) from 2 (or more) servers
basis?

Grzegorz



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Fri Sep 24 09:30:30 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 11:30:30 -0500
Subject: distributed data
Message-ID: <s7eb610d.011@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

The balancing script I sent assumed mirrored machines where a full map
would be composed on a single machine. Balancing takes place in choosing
which machine to use.

There are a couple of interesting possibilities dealing with distributed data. One
is a technology called OGDI (Open Geographic Data Interface - I think) developed
in Canada. Simliar in concept to ODBI for relational databases it allows clients to
retrieve data, in a structured manner, from spatial data servers. These servers
use datatype drivers (eg. shapefile, mif, dxf, etc...) to return *raw* data to the
client. It's possible that the MapServer could be a OGDI client and that remote
data could be incorporated into any map. Mechanism would be easy, instead of
refering to a local data file (using DATA keyword) you'd refer to a remote resource
using the OGDI gltp protocol. For more info, see http://www.ogdi.org/.

A second possibilty would be working within the framework being developed by the
OpenGIS Consortium "Web Mapping Testbed". I haven't read much on this yet
and there are several MapServer users who are a part of this that can comment
better than I. One concept they've put forth is a "cascading" map server where
gifs from multiple map engines would be composited and returned to the client. 
MapServer could pretty easily become WMT compliant and could serve GIFs. There
are questions as to symbology and annotation that would need to be addressed.
See www.opengis.org for more info.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst
MIS Bureau - MN DNR

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

>>> "Grzegorz Myrda" <mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl> 09/23 5:22 PM >>>
Some weeks ago Steven wrote something about balancing.
May it be used to make a map from shapefiles located at different servers
(each with mapserv), on joining GIFs (as layers) from 2 (or more) servers
basis?

Grzegorz




From freeborn at dreamscape.com  Sat Sep 25 18:42:52 1999
From: freeborn at dreamscape.com (Ed Freeborn)
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:42:52 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: MapServer List Archive
Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.4.10.9909252135090.2047-100000@nova.dreamscape.com>

Is anyone archiving the MapServer List discussions?  I haven't
been using Mapserver for a while, but have been lurking on the
list.  The archive I've been keeping is getting quite long.  I 
would offer it up, but I don't keep every message. Is there an 
official version somewhere?

TIA

Ed


freeborn at dreamscape.com



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Sat Sep 25 20:22:47 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 22:22:47 -0500
Subject: MapServer List Archive
Message-ID: <s7ed4b51.060@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Yup, the University maintains a web version. It's a bit out of date *hint*, but I know they plan on keeping it up.

Steve

<<< Ed Freeborn <freeborn at dreamscape.com>  9/25  8:46p >>>
Is anyone archiving the MapServer List discussions?  I haven't
been using Mapserver for a while, but have been lurking on the
list.  The archive I've been keeping is getting quite long.  I 
would offer it up, but I don't keep every message. Is there an 
official version somewhere?

TIA

Ed


freeborn at dreamscape.com




From vrraju at gis.umn.edu  Sat Sep 25 21:16:19 1999
From: vrraju at gis.umn.edu (Vatsavai Ranga Raju)
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 23:16:19 -0500
Subject: MapServer List Archive
References: <Pine.BSI.4.10.9909252135090.2047-100000@nova.dreamscape.com>
Message-ID: <37ED9E13.A40ED898@gis.umn.edu>

Hi Ed,

You can find monthly archives in html format at :
http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/mapserver-users-list-archives/index.html
This list is updated at the end of every month. You can also get monthly

archives by sending the following sequence of commands to
majordomo at lists.gis.umn.edu

1. to find list archive, send

index mapserver-users
end

2. You will get back list of file names - for eg.

    >>>> index mapserver-users
.
..
total 1130
drwxr-xr-x   8 root     other       1024 Sep 25 22:43 html
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon      1482 Mar 30 15:26
mapserver-users.9903
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon     71556 Apr 30 16:23
mapserver-users.9904
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon     19063 May 14 02:40
mapserver-users.9905
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon     77394 Jun 30 11:18
mapserver-users.9906
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon     70205 Jul 31 14:13
mapserver-users.9907
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon    115447 Aug 31 18:06
mapserver-users.9908
-rw-rw----   1 majordom daemon    192749 Sep 25 22:20
mapserver-users.9909

3. If you are interested in getting september 99 archive, then send the
following
    commands to majordomo at lists.gis.umn.edu

get  mapserver-users  mapserver-users.9909
end



Raju
----

Ed Freeborn wrote:

> Is anyone archiving the MapServer List discussions?  I haven't
> been using Mapserver for a while, but have been lurking on the
> list.  The archive I've been keeping is getting quite long.  I
> would offer it up, but I don't keep every message. Is there an
> official version somewhere?
>
> TIA
>
> Ed
>
> freeborn at dreamscape.com



From cshorter at optusnet.com.au  Sat Sep 25 21:26:45 1999
From: cshorter at optusnet.com.au (Cameron Shorter)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 14:26:45 +1000
Subject: MapServer List Archive
References: <s7ed4b51.060@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <37EDA085.8BFD550B@optusnet.com.au>

I'd be really impressed if the archive could be made more recent.  Month old
archives often arn't good enough for me, and I find the email interface messy.

Cameron

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> Yup, the University maintains a web version. It's a bit out of date *hint*, but I know they plan on keeping it up.


From vrraju at gis.umn.edu  Sat Sep 25 22:10:21 1999
From: vrraju at gis.umn.edu (Vatsavai Ranga Raju)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 00:10:21 -0500
Subject: MapServer List Archive
References: <s7ed4b51.060@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us> <37EDA085.8BFD550B@optusnet.com.au>
Message-ID: <37EDAABC.EDDC798@gis.umn.edu>

Hi Cameron

Sure, email interface (i.e - get list-name file-name from majordomo) is not a convenient
method to go through mail archives. But there are utilities (like mhonarc) which will convert
email list to html files. Initially there is very little traffic for mapserver-users lists, so we
thought monthly archives are sufficient (for html interface, but users can get up-to-date
archive files through email interface). Ofcourse we can archive them at frequent intervals,
if there is sufficient traffic and need.

Raju.
----

Cameron Shorter wrote:

> I'd be really impressed if the archive could be made more recent.  Month old
> archives often arn't good enough for me, and I find the email interface messy.
>
> Cameron
>
> Stephen Lime wrote:
> >
> > Yup, the University maintains a web version. It's a bit out of date *hint*, but I know they plan on keeping it up.



From piero at innova.it  Sun Sep 26 03:08:29 1999
From: piero at innova.it (Pierluigi Vittori)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 12:08:29 +0200
Subject: HTML templates with frames
Message-ID: <99091813063800.00499@buzz.myhouse.net>

Hi all!

I am wondering if it is possible to use mapserv in a frameset environment, that
is if there is the possibility to update more than one html template at the same
time so that, for example, one can place the main map in one frame,
navigation arrows in another one, info in a third one and so on.
The problem that I see is that the placeholders in square brackets ([map],
[mapext] etc.) should be updated in more than one template file: is it
something the present version is already capable of handling? If not so, does
anybody see a way to implement it?

Thanks for your advice.

Piero



From ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu  Sun Sep 26 12:15:32 1999
From: ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu (ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 12:15:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.990926120400.18344A-100000@titan.lab.csuchico.edu>


Hello,

  I have been working on a system similar to mapserver for about a year,
and was pleasantly supprised when I came across the mapserver website.  I
have a few issues with the server in it's current state, and am wondering
if this is an open project or mostly a personal one which happens to be
open source.

  One of my main issues with the system is the degree to which it depends
on the gd library (and thus, the indexed image format used therein).  In
my own shapefile renderer, I have been using a 32bit RGBA array as my
image format, with functions to load/save from various graphics/spatial
data formats.  In reguard to the recent discussion about distributed
rendering of image planes, with the master server slapping the planes
together, this could be accomplished much easier if the individual
distributed renderers did not have to worry about using up a colormap.

  Several other design issues, as well as questions of extensibility (new
data formats), have led me to question whether a complete redesign of your
system is in order.  I have been trying to decide whether I wanted to
attempt to merge the mapserver layout/parsing engine with my own code, but
I wanted to get the opinions of those actually working on the mapserver
code first.

  Are there any current plans to redesign the mapserver system?  If so,
will it be open for discussion among those using the system?

  I will go through the mailing list archives to see if any of these
questions have already been brought forward and answered, but would
appreciate any response I can get.

Thanks,

Aaron Stafford
ender at gic.csuchico.edu

Geographic Information Center
California State University, Chico



From cshorter at optusnet.com.au  Sun Sep 26 13:55:24 1999
From: cshorter at optusnet.com.au (Cameron Shorter)
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 06:55:24 +1000
Subject: No subject
References: <Pine.LNX.3.96.990926120400.18344A-100000@titan.lab.csuchico.edu>
Message-ID: <37EE883C.34087C9F@optusnet.com.au>

ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu wrote:
 
>   I have been working on a system similar to mapserver for about a year,

So, do you have a working version of anything?  If so where are you up to, and
where are the demos/source/whatever?


From mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl  Sun Sep 26 14:56:44 1999
From: mapadm at polsl.gliwice.pl (Grzegorz Myrda)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 23:56:44 +0200
Subject: query by point suggestion
Message-ID: <000001bf086a$062c8600$c413a0d4@g>

In subjective opinion :) it would be better if querying by clicking on the
image, would search and return results from layers that are visible (on and
at proper scale), rather than all layers from mapfile.
Getting results from layers we are not watching (default on, but its
maxscale under current scale) is maybe sometimes useful but more often
confusing.

Grzegorz



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Mon Sep 27 07:56:29 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 09:56:29 -0500
Subject: HTML templates with frames
Message-ID: <s7ef3f5d.015@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

You can do it with so help from JavaScript. For example, you can have a "controls" frame that updates a map in another frame, and using JavaScript you could trigger more maps or queries based on what happens in that main map frame. Basically you set the frames location to a new mapserver url. You can always embed extra maps built from addition map files just using the <img src="/cgi-bin/mapserv?mode=map&...">. It's possible to run interfaces that never access templates, rather they just replace the image src value for the main map and/or reference map. All sorts of highend possiblities out there. 

A little scripting can yield very nice results with interfaces and query summary.

Steve

<<< Pierluigi Vittori <piero at innova.it>  9/26  5:15a >>>
Hi all!

I am wondering if it is possible to use mapserv in a frameset environment, that
is if there is the possibility to update more than one html template at the same
time so that, for example, one can place the main map in one frame,
navigation arrows in another one, info in a third one and so on.
The problem that I see is that the placeholders in square brackets ([map],
[mapext] etc.) should be updated in more than one template file: is it
something the present version is already capable of handling? If not so, does
anybody see a way to implement it?

Thanks for your advice.

Piero




From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Mon Sep 27 08:20:38 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:20:38 -0500
Subject: No subject
Message-ID: <s7ef451a.068@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

Hi:

> Hello,

>  I have been working on a system similar to 
> mapserver for about a year, and was pleasantly > supprised when I came across the mapserver 
> website.  I have a few issues with the server 
> in it's current state, and am wondering if this > is an open project or mostly a personal one 
> which happens to be open source.

In the past I would describe the MapServer as more of a personal project. However, I'm very interested in seeing it go full blown OpenSource. That is the plan anyway after the next version is released sometime in October. We are working now to enable a formal CVS with web access in hopes of creating a formal (and distributed) development team.

>  One of my main issues with the system is the 
> degree to which it depends on the gd library 
> (and thus, the indexed image format used 
> therein).  In my own shapefile renderer, I have > been using a 32bit RGBA array as my image 
> format, with functions to load/save from 
> various graphics/spatial data formats.  In 
> reguard to the recent discussion about 
> distributed rendering of image planes, with the
> master server slapping the planes together, 
> this could be accomplished much easier if the 
> individual distributed renderers did not have 
> to worry about using up a colormap.

I agree. Version 3.2 has hidden all the colormap manipulation from the user and requests color information as RGB values. This is in preperation for a 24 or 32 bit image format. I've looked for alternatives to GD and haven't found much. Actually ImageMagick has GD-like functions but the price is steep as the author reports 4x speed decrease. Perhaps this is an area you could contribute, sound like you must have solved the problem. Again, speed is critical.

> Several other design issues, as well as 
> questions of extensibility (new data formats), > have led me to question whether a complete 
> redesign of your system is in order.  I have
> been trying to decide whether I wanted to
> attempt to merge the mapserver layout/parsing
> engine with my own code, but I wanted to get
> the opinions of those actually working on the
> mapserver code first.

Complete redesign? Not without some real good reasons, but I'm listening. The rendering engine has been redesigned in version 3.3 so that integrating handlers for other data sources is *much* easier than before. Supporting every format under the sun is real low on my priority list. It's not like conversions to shapefiles are hard any more so I've no problem with using that format. I'm more interested in generic access to distributed spatial data. OGDI (www.ogdi.org) really peaks my interest here. Non-standard spatial data access via a scripting environment like perl is also high on my list. 3.3 will introduce MapScript a perl module for creating maps using the MapServer API.

>  Are there any current plans to redesign the
> mapserver system?  If so, will it be open for
> discussion among those using the system?

In an OpenSource environment I certainly hope that
users will want some input. With 3.3 I hope to have a nice platform to build on. I'm certainly open to discussions on how we might make it a better product.

> I will go through the mailing list archives to
> see if any of these questions have already been
> brought forward and answered, but would
> appreciate any response I can get.

Most folks are just getting started and aren't that concerned (yet) with questions about the internals. You may find some interesting reading though.

> Thanks,

> Aaron Stafford
> ender at gic.csuchico.edu

> Geographic Information Center
> California State University, Chico

Steve


From ncarr at guideguide.com  Wed Sep 29 11:19:20 1999
From: ncarr at guideguide.com (Nathan Carr)
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 19:19:20 +0100
Subject: was a larger discussion about mapserver development
References: <s7ef451a.068@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <37F25828.EE32CB80@guideguide.com>

Stephen Lime wrote:

> I've looked for alternatives to GD and haven't found much. Actually ImageMagick has GD-like 
> functions but the price is steep as the author reports 4x speed decrease. Perhaps this is an area 
> you could contribute, sound like you must have solved the problem. Again, speed is critical.

I suppose this rules out GTK then.
Is it plausible to have swichable image libraries?

> Supporting every format under the sun is real low on my priority list. It's not like conversions
> to shapefiles are hard any more so I've no problem with using that format. I'm more interested in
> generic access to distributed spatial data. OGDI (www.ogdi.org) really peaks my interest here. 

This makes feel a bit thick as I'm trying to ungenerate arc/info
coverages into shapefiles using
the gen2shp and the shpfile library. But without the arc/info GIS, and
thus without 'ungenerate'.

Ahh I see this OGDI Base Adapter accesses arc/info native coverages,
will look at this

The other alternative being a EU transport format called GDF, which
although readable looks a bit
daunting to parse.

> Non-standard spatial data access via a scripting environment like perl is also high on my 
> list. 3.3 will introduce MapScript a perl module for creating maps using the MapServer API.

This would be my preferred interface. 
With my rather limited data so far, the mapserver code interface is
looking great.

> > Geographic Information Center
> > California State University, Chico
> 
> Steve

-- 
Nathan Carr  ncarr at guideguide.com


From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep 29 11:33:30 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 13:33:30 -0500
Subject: was a larger discussion about mapserver development
Message-ID: <s7f2154a.068@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

It is reasonable to switch image/graphics libraries. Problem is there aren't many
alternatives. Again, if anyone has other information please let me know.

Any readable format isn't real useful for live applications. One could easily
extend the mapserver to read Arc generate files natively, but the cost would
be used. ASCII files are much slower to read than binary and contain no indexes
so the whole file must be processed rather than bits and pieces. 

Steve

>>> Nathan Carr <ncarr at guideguide.com> 09/29 1:19 PM >>>
Stephen Lime wrote:

> I've looked for alternatives to GD and haven't found much. Actually ImageMagick has GD-like 
> functions but the price is steep as the author reports 4x speed decrease. Perhaps this is an area 
> you could contribute, sound like you must have solved the problem. Again, speed is critical.

I suppose this rules out GTK then.
Is it plausible to have swichable image libraries?

> Supporting every format under the sun is real low on my priority list. It's not like conversions
> to shapefiles are hard any more so I've no problem with using that format. I'm more interested in
> generic access to distributed spatial data. OGDI (www.ogdi.org) really peaks my interest here. 

This makes feel a bit thick as I'm trying to ungenerate arc/info
coverages into shapefiles using
the gen2shp and the shpfile library. But without the arc/info GIS, and
thus without 'ungenerate'.

Ahh I see this OGDI Base Adapter accesses arc/info native coverages,
will look at this

The other alternative being a EU transport format called GDF, which
although readable looks a bit
daunting to parse.

> Non-standard spatial data access via a scripting environment like perl is also high on my 
> list. 3.3 will introduce MapScript a perl module for creating maps using the MapServer API.

This would be my preferred interface. 
With my rather limited data so far, the mapserver code interface is
looking great.

> > Geographic Information Center
> > California State University, Chico
> 
> Steve

-- 
Nathan Carr  ncarr at guideguide.com



From ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu  Wed Sep 29 15:47:23 1999
From: ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu (ender at titan.lab.csuchico.edu)
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:47:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: was a larger discussion about mapserver development
In-Reply-To: <s7f2154a.068@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.990929153125.2570C-100000@titan.lab.csuchico.edu>


Steve,

  Instead of searching for a new image/graphics library, we can just
adapt the currently used one.  gd has a very open license, and is quite
easy to extend, only requiring major changes in the getpixel and setpixel
functions, as well as replacing all of the color allocation,
deallocation, and matching functions.

  I have re-written much of the library (in it's 1.2 incarnation) to
support 24 bit color ( and am extending it to 32 bit as time permits).  I
also took a polygon renderer from Michael Abrash's computer graphics book,
and adapted it for use with the library.  I haven't really looked at the
new polygon rendering code, but since it seems to work just fine, I don't
think that it would take much modification to update my code using the new
gd.
  
  Using the standard graphics libraries, it will be simple to include any
graphics type (with the appropriately named world file) as a base image.
I currently have jpeg and tiff supported, but including other formats
would only take a few hours to learn the library api.

  I have also used libttf with my code, and it works quite well.  I
haven't looked at the new gd ttf code yet, so I cannot say how much work
it will take to get it all up to date.

  I am going through the code right now, adding the correct references to
code sources, and will send it to this list in a few days.

  BTW, In order to merge better with some of the other projects I have
been working on, I have written my version in C++, but it can easily be
rewritten to use the standard c gd function calls again.

-Aaron Stafford
Geographical Information Center
California State University, Chico

On Wed, 29 Sep 1999, Stephen Lime wrote:

> It is reasonable to switch image/graphics libraries. Problem is there aren't many
> alternatives. Again, if anyone has other information please let me know.
> 
> Any readable format isn't real useful for live applications. One could easily
> extend the mapserver to read Arc generate files natively, but the cost would
> be used. ASCII files are much slower to read than binary and contain no indexes
> so the whole file must be processed rather than bits and pieces. 
> 
> Steve
> 
> >>> Nathan Carr <ncarr at guideguide.com> 09/29 1:19 PM >>>
> Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> > I've looked for alternatives to GD and haven't found much. Actually ImageMagick has GD-like 
> > functions but the price is steep as the author reports 4x speed decrease. Perhaps this is an area 
> > you could contribute, sound like you must have solved the problem. Again, speed is critical.
> 
> I suppose this rules out GTK then.
> Is it plausible to have swichable image libraries?



From steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us  Wed Sep 29 20:37:29 1999
From: steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us (Stephen Lime)
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 22:37:29 -0500
Subject: was a larger discussion about mapserver development
Message-ID: <s7f294f6.090@smtp.dnr.state.mn.us>

> Steve,

> Instead of searching for a new image/graphics library, we can just
> adapt the currently used one.  gd has a very open license, and is quite
> easy to extend, only requiring major changes in the getpixel and setpixel
> functions, as well as replacing all of the color allocation,
> deallocation, and matching functions.

>  I have re-written much of the library (in it's 1.2 incarnation) to
> support 24 bit color ( and am extending it to 32 bit as time permits).  I
> also took a polygon renderer from Michael Abrash's computer graphics book,
> and adapted it for use with the library.  I haven't really looked at the
> new polygon rendering code, but since it seems to work just fine, I don't
> think that it would take much modification to update my code using the new
> gd.
  
I re-wrote gd as well, a few years ago. I was 
hoping to add some functions for antialiased 
lines, etc. but that was beyond my programming
expertise at the time. It may be possible to 
swipe some antialiasing code from the Gimp or the
ImageMagick packages. 

I don't use the GD polygon rendering. I rewrote an
algorithm I found someplace when the GD 1.2 
version was busted. It handles disjoint polygons 
and polygons will holes all in one step. Works 
nice and is pretty efficient.

>  Using the standard graphics libraries, it will be simple to include any
> graphics type (with the appropriately named world file) as a base image.
> I currently have jpeg and tiff supported, but including other formats
> would only take a few hours to learn the library api.

GIF and PNG are necessities, GIF especially. With 
and without LZW. Taking advantage of many of PNGs
features may be tricky, but worth it.

> I have also used libttf with my code, and it works quite well.  I
> haven't looked at the new gd ttf code yet, so I cannot say how much work
> it will take to get it all up to date.

I don't think it's worth using the GD 
implementation of gdtf. Actually I think it's just
a straight call to a couple of functions so there
really isn't anything to add. I'd sort of like to
create a mapgraphic.c file with all the drawing
functions (both antialiased and non-antialiased
versions) and image reading, writing functions in
one place, and not worry about GD. It may be years
before 2.0 is out- I don't think they started.

>  I am going through the code right now, adding the correct references to
> code sources, and will send it to this list in a few days.

Keep me posted. Re-writing the graphics piece was
something I didn't want to myself. If others are
interested I think a very cool product could be
just around the corner.

>  BTW, In order to merge better with some of the other projects I have
> been working on, I have written my version in C++, but it can easily be
> rewritten to use the standard c gd function calls again.

A move to C++ will have to happen with the core 
code. Maybe version 4.0 *sigh*. Actually, I do 
have a decent object model in place now. First
though, I need to get 3.3 out to users.

> -Aaron Stafford
> Geographical Information Center
> California State University, Chico

Steve