[Mapserver-users] Mapserver connectivity with Java/Perl

[Joe Bussell]

Greetings,
    I have not had occasion to review the updates to ArcIMS.  The 
comparison that I made was done well over a year ago.  We have had 
excellent results from Mapserver in our TrafficDodger site and see no 
reason to consider change.

    It is my belief that folks use PostGIS regularly with Mapserver. 
Our usage of databases is limited to user and session information. 
There are examples and numerous discussions on the mailing list archive.

Cordially,

Joe Bussell
www.trafficdodger.com


garre at u.washington.edu wrote:
> Thanks for the reply Joe.  When you decided to go with Mapserver over ArcIMS, what versions were you comparing?  After reading through posts on the support site, it seems as though most topics on the issue predate the release of ArcIMS 4.0.1.  With this more recent version, I'm curious to know whether it has been updated to address the previous problems and inefficiencies of the software.
> 
> With Mapserver, is it possible to draw shape data from a large database without the creation of shapefiles?
> 
> Thanks for the help!
> 
> Justin Garre
> garre at u.washington.edu
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2003, Joe Bussell wrote:
> 
> 
>>We are presently using PERL to handle our map production, including 
>>layering of routes on top of the map.  We evaluated ESRI's offerings as 
>>well as MapServer and determined that the path to achieve a usable 
>>solution was clearer on the MapServer thread.  Specific elements of 
>>MapServer make it the right choice for us at TrafficDodger.  First, 
>>using PERL mapscript we have complete control of layers.  This includes 
>>the inclusion of dynamic layers.  It was trivial for instance for me to 
>>add the hide/show speeds and events on our page by setting a CGI 
>>parameter which PERL interprets.  Second, we needed to write a route for 
>>a given user for  a given session.  This required a live data layer 
>>which was easily tracked and reproduced by dynamically adding shapes to 
>>the image object.  To achieve the same level of user control I was told 
>>by an ESRI engineer that I would have to write a custom Java servlet to 
>>reside on my Linux box which would marshal map requests to the server. 
>>This seemed cumbersome and undesireable.  They offered to build it for 
>>me for consideration as custom development, no thanks!
>>
>>Using mapscript you can do just about anything given a shapefile and 
>>associated dbf.  You will experience improved performance by creating 
>>spatial indeces into that data (search for shptree).
>>
>>There are some good examples out there, just search.
>>
>>Finally, much of this work has been done.  What is your project scope?
>>
>>Cordially,
>>
>>Joe Bussell
>>On Time Systems
>>www.trafficdodger.com
>>
>>
>>garre at u.washington.edu wrote:
>>
>>>Hi folks.  I am currently looking for a little help with how Mapserver relates to Java and Perl.  
>>>
>>>In trying to create a web-based real-time transportation map, I am debating whether to take the ArcSDE/ArcIMS rout or use a langage API (Perl or Java) and combine it with Mapserver.
>>>
>>>To help in my decision making I was hoping several of you could direct me to any documentation or reply with any first hand knowledge of how Mapserver works with the Java and Perl programming languages.  
>>>
>>>Also, can Mapserver read directly from a database file (.dbf) that includes all necessary data and create shapefiles or does it need the standard collection of .prj, .sbn, .sbx, etc support files like those found with ESRI shapefiles?  I am an ESRI-educated individual so the functionality of Mapserver and it's connectivity with programming languages are uncharted waters from my standpoint.  I am aware that Mapserver supports ESRI shapefiles, but I am more curious about data that has not yet been formatted into a .shp file.
>>>
>>>If anybody has code samples of Mapserver using Java or Perl it would be of GREAT help.
>>>
>>>Many thanks in advance!
>>>
>>>
>>>Justin Garre
>>>University of Washington
>>>garre at u.washington.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>Mapserver-users mailing list
>>>Mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
>>>http://lists.gis.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users
>>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
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