[mapserver-users] OGC and Mapserver

[Pericles S. Nacionales]

John,

> I want to implement a simple OpenGIS compliant Web Map Service using
> Mapserver to test the WMS concepts.  I believe that Mapserver
> version 3.5 is
> capable of doing this however, I've been waiting for 3.5 to be stable and
> beyond the nightly builds before I attempt this project.

Having compiled support for WMS server, I decided to try converting the
MapServer demo into a WMS app.  You can can check it out at
http://128.101.73.156/cgi-bin/demo35wms?REQUEST=GetMap&layer=lakes&layer=str
eams&zoomsize=1

I don't have CVS
> just RCS.  I therefore, have the following questions:
>
> 1. Has anyone set up a simple OpenGIS compliant WMS using mapserv?  If so
> how difficult was it and can you supply any examples?

Well, it wasn't that difficult.  It was just tedious adding the METADATA and
PROJECTION stuff.  Everything sort of makes sense after a couple of
repetitions (sort of like the rest of the map file, I guess :).

>
> 2. Is Mapserver version 3.5 stable enough for me to confidently implement
> and smoothly run a WMS and if not when will it be stable enough.

Well, based on my experience, mapserver 3.5 is very stable.  But then, I
really haven't used any of the new features yet.  ...and I'm running this on
Win2000.

>
> 3. Is it easy to convert 3.4 mapfiles format into 3.5 mapfiles format?
>

If you're using the demo for 3.4, just move the QUERY TEMPLATE into the
CLASS object and you're pretty much set.  Here's an example:

old 3.4 map file
<...>
  LAYER
  <...>
    CLASS
      NAME county
      COLOR 128 128 128
    END # end of class definitions

    QUERY
      TEMPLATE county.html
    END # end of query stuff
  END # end of layer defs
END # end of map file

new 3.5 map file
<...>
  LAYER
  <...>
    CLASS
      NAME county
      COLOR 128 128 128
      TEMPLATE county.html
    END # end of class definitions
  END # end of layer defs
END # end of map file

So, no more QUERY object.


> Thanks in advance for your replies.
>
> John Hockaday
>

I hope this helps.  Let me know if you want my sample files.

-Perry Nacionales

PS:  I used Jeff McKenna's WMS Server HOW-TO for setting up this demo. It's
available in the documentation section of the mapserver web
site--http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/doc.html