Proposed change to symbols.

[Mel VanderWal]

One thing that would be a nice feature is to be able to "stack" symbols
in a single
layer.  For example, most of the decent-looking ArcView point symbols
are actually two or
more .ttf symbols placed directly on top of each other.  Another
example:  dashed thin
yellow line on top of thicker black line = highway symbol.

For what it's worth, I'm all for moving the symbols into the map file.

Stephen Lime wrote:

> You can already do it. Symbol files support the a fontset just like
the
> main map file. You then can have TRUETYPE symbol types and use
> a parameter named CHARACTER to represent the symbol (i.e. Z =
something
> in the .ttf file). You can always use annotation layers with symbolic
.ttf files
> (and a constant blank TEXT value - TEXT " ") as well.
>
> Steve
>
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
>
> Minnesota DNR
> 500 Lafayette Road
> St. Paul, MN 55155
> 651-297-2937
>
> >>> "Doyon, Jean-Francois" <Jean-Francois.Doyon at CCRS.NRCan.gc.ca>
07/27/00 09:15AM >>>
> Someone in my office had mentionned a neat feature he's seen on other
> mapservers : Using TrueType Fonts for symbology ...
>
> So basically a symbol could simply be a TrueType font character ...
>
> Anybody thought of this before ? Is that a good idea ? Just thought
I'd
> throw it out there ...
>
> Jean-Francois Doyon
> Internet Service Development and Systems Support
> GeoAccess Division
> Natural Resources Canada
> (613) 992-4902
>

--
Mel VanderWal
GIS Programmer / Manager
GAIA Consultants Inc.
Suite 306, 822-11th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
T2R 0E5
Phone: (403) 571-7216
Fax: (403) 571-7211
www.gaiaenv.com
vanderwalm at gaiaenv.com