[mapserver-users] beginner getting started

[Thomas P. Colson]

Daniel,I think this calls for a detailed user survey. There are several cookie cutter survey cgi-forms out there. I'd be interested to see what the major install base is. 
 
BTW,mapserver ROCKS on RH, at least in my env. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin, Daniel [mailto:DMartin at erac.com]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 12:09 PM
To: 'Yu-Hsin Chen'; Thomas P. Colson; Seth Rodriguez; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: RE: [mapserver-users] beginner getting started


As someone who uses MapServer on Windows with no Windows specific problems, I would like to hear from you guys some reasons behind your statements.  I'd like to know what it is I'm missing out on.  If there is some specific advantage other than your passion for the platform, I'd like to know about it.  I've never heard of any myself, so if there is it would help me to know about it.
 
Passion is certainly admirable.  But if passion is the only reason, I'm honestly a little bewildered to see new users steered towards a platform without specific reasons.  
 
Windows users might be turned off from MapServer by believing it doesn't work well under "Winders", when in fact it runs very well.  I'd hate to see that happen, because MapServer is great!
 
-Dan Martin
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Yu-Hsin Chen [mailto:ychen at yorktel.com]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 9:30 AM
To: Thomas P. Colson; Seth Rodriguez; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: RE: [mapserver-users] beginner getting started


Although I've read in this list that MapServer runs on Windows, in the long run, I'd have to agree with Tom that you should try a Linux platform ( or UNIX if you have access to one ).
 
>From your description I take you might not have experienced Linux/UNIX yet.  It does cost 'a little' more to set up a UNIX than a Linux system.  If you have a spare computer you can either download or buy ( inexpensively ) installation CD for Linux.  Red Hat is a popular commercialized brand.  I personally run Mandrake 8.0 with MapServer running either using shape files or directly retrieve data from Oracle.  It is not 'that' difficult to set it up.
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas P. Colson [mailto:tpcolson at nexussoft.com]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 9:16 AM
To: Seth Rodriguez; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: RE: [mapserver-users] beginner getting started


What are your Linux Skills? It works much better "out of the box" on Red Hat. I'd stay away from "Winders". 

-----Original Message-----
From: Seth Rodriguez [mailto:srodriguez at maguiregroup.com]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 8:40 AM
To: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: [mapserver-users] beginner getting started



I have been asked by the boss to develop some new marketable GIS skills. Our company does a lot of work in the transportation industry. One task in our transportation work is to do public involvement. So I have suggested developing project websites with web-based project mapping using MapServer, which I was introduced to at an ArcView training. To assess the usability of the software, I wanted to implement a test to show the boss. Unfortunately, my programming experience is limited to a bit of avenue, AML, VB, and html, none of which I would say I am fluent in. Fortunately, the description of the software notes that programming is not required for basic use. 

 

I apologize for my novice questions, but I am having some problems off the bat. I have downloaded the newest version (3.6.3) and the demo, but have not found any executables in the zips. I am assuming that this is due to a corrupted download. I also noticed that the software is known to run on 95, 98, and NT. I am running XP on my machine. Will this be a problem? I can move to another machine if needed.

 

I hope that I am not biting off too much with this task. Luckily for me, I am a quick learner. Would anyone out there please consider taking a young, ambitious consultant under their wing to help him impress his boss? I will be forever grateful. 

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Seth Rodriguez

Environmental Scientist

GIS Analyst

Maguire Group Inc.

564 Forbes Avenue, Suite 1212

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

(412) 281-6393

(412) 281-7908 FAX

 

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