MapServer productivity tools.

[Stephen Lime]

Seems one of the biggest holes in the MapServer application is the lack of tools for
building and administering MapServer applications. Again this is an area where the
group at large can help out. I know folks are using ArcView to build .map files. Cool,
but why don't we get together and support a single version that is distributed via the
MapServer web site? Could those doing this contact me off the list and I'll help 
facilitate it?

Other tools? Cough 'em up and let's get an archive going. I've got several MapScript
tools for doing all sorts of things. I'm willing to reorganize the site's utils section to get
this stuff out there.

I've also been writing a client application environment to allow higher-end applications
to be easily created. The environment consists of an applet to display images (it has a
few other features) and a javascript library to manage coordinates and layers. It tells
the applet what image to retrieve and so on. Those components are just about ready
for use, sans documentation. The first app I've built on top of these components can
be previewed at:

  http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/landview 

You'll need version 4.5 or higher browsers to use it. (I haven't investigated older ones
yet) This type of software is what I'd really like focus on, but will need help given all the
other stuff that needs doing. This runs on top of the new 3.3.012 CVS version.

Steve


Stephen Lime
Internet Applications Analyst

Minnesota DNR
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-2937