Map server interface available

[Doug Nebert]

Stephen Lime wrote:
> 
> Doug: Cool. It is simple although a bit cryptic. A couple of questions:
> 
>   - got any example urls for calling the ms.pl script?
>   - where/what is the required file dumpvars.pl?
> 

I have modified the http://clearinghouse3.fgdc.gov/wmswrapper.html
to reflect the necessary files and an example invocation. The 
dumpvars was a diagnostic include and was commented out, now it is 
not in the ms.pl file.

> Seems the capabilities.xml file would be best built from the mapfile 
> itself. I believe most of the params presented in the the .xml file 
> are accounted for in the mapfile syntax. MapScript would really 
> simplify that process. It could be used to simplify the getMap 
> request by avoiding any CGI altogether. 

I like this idea and would encourage any takers to show us how 
mapscript could really be used to do this. There are a number of 
useful values (Name, Title, Abstract) for each layer that may not 
have a counterpart in a map file (only Name) and are really useful 
for searching and evaluating the available layers in a catalog. 
Perhaps these could be gleaned from legend-like constructs in a 
future mapfile?

> MapScript also supports queries
> now so a getFeatureInfo request should be easily doable. In addition, you have
> direct access to the shapefiles in MapScript so dumping vectors as SVG or whatever
> can be done too.
> 

I am confident this can be done for both raster and vector 
targets under mapserver, just not yet implemented. As the 
XML-encoded vectors stabilize in OGC's GML proposal this would be 
a very cool output feature to demonstrate among the FGDC and other 
pilot projects in the coming 6 months.

> Anyway, nice work Rob/Doug. Looking forward to learning more about this capability.
> 
> Steve
> 
> Stephen Lime
> Internet Applications Analyst
> 
> Minnesota DNR
> 500 Lafayette Road
> St. Paul, MN 55155
> 651-297-2937
> 
> >>> Doug Nebert <ddnebert at usgs.gov> 03/22/00 05:09PM >>>
> The open source map server known as "mapserver" developed by
> the State of Minnesota in support of, and with support of, NASA and
> other activities, now has a simple OGC-compatible wrapper and
> configuration file written in perl. This responds to getCapabilities
> and getMap functions so far. It is free for general use and we welcome
> your continued contributions to do more with it!
> 
> See: http://clearinghouse3.fgdc.gov/wmswrapper.html
> 
> --
> Douglas D. Nebert
> Clearinghouse Coordinator
> FGDC Secretariat        Phone: +1 703 648 4151  Fax: +1 703 648-5755
> Pager Messaging:        http://clearinghouse3.fgdc.gov/dougmsg.html

-- 
Douglas D. Nebert
Clearinghouse Coordinator 
FGDC Secretariat	Phone: +1 703 648 4151	Fax: +1 703 648-5755	
Pager Messaging: 	http://clearinghouse3.fgdc.gov/dougmsg.html