[Mapserver-users] Mapfile format in XML

[Antti.Roppola at brs.gov.au]

Hi all,

I have added an entry to the FAQ on the Wiki, but was not able to find
the post I was looking for that explained the pros and cons nicely.

	http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?FAQ

If anyone wants to improve on my rather vague entry, feel free to do so.

Cheers,

Antti

-----Original Message-----
From: Lars V. Nielsen [mailto:LVN at hvm.dk]
Sent: Monday, 2 June 2003 6:11 AM
To: spencer at dmsolutions.ca; Paul Spencer
Cc: Morten Nielsen; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: Re: [Mapserver-users] Mapfile format in XML


Hear, hear.


XML may be the future, but it isn't the answer to every task.




And validating a line oriented format like the MAP file shouldn't be too 
difficult. Maybe someone has made a validator for it already ?




Best regards / Med venlig hilsen


Lars V. Nielsen


-------------------------------


Hvenegaard & Meklenborg, Odense


http://www.hvm.dk






Citering Paul Spencer <pagameba at magma.ca>:




> No, although this has been discussed extensively.  If you search the 


> list archives I believe that for the near term the decision was that XML 


> would likely add too much overhead (especially if it validates) to the 


> parsing process (and probably adds an additional library dependency on 


> something like xerces) and no real benefits.  The MapServer developers 


> place a high emphasis on keeping the core of MapServer lean and mean so 


> it can perform very well in high-load situations, so I believe that it 


> is unlikely that a compelling argument for XML could be made that would 


> influence the core developers.


> 


> If you really believe strongly in it, though, you can do it yourself and 


> then try to sell the idea (ah, the beauty of open source ;)).


> 


> The capability that Gerald refers to is an XML format for a 


> "map-file-like" document that describes WMS layers only, and does not 


> directly include the ability to style layers, add labels, and all the 


> other cool things that MapServer can do via the MAP file.  MapServer 


> support for Contexts requires the GDAL library and parses the XML using 


> the GDAL minixml driver, which is a non-validating parser.  This format 


> is probably of very little actual benefit to most MapServer users except 


> those that use WMS.  The Context document itself is meant primarily as 


> an interchange format that allows users to share views.


> 


> Cheers,


> 


> Paul


> 


> Gerald Buckmaster wrote:


> 


>  > Hi,


>  >


>  > I think this link might be what you are looking for:


>  >


>  > http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?MapContextHowto


>  >


>  > HTH


>  >


>  > Gerald


>  >


> 


> Morten Nielsen wrote:


> 


> > Is there any plans on upgrading/supplementing the MAP format to XML ?


> > It would make a lot of things easier, when processing the Map file in


> other


> > scripts (not to mention the validating that a DTD could offer).


> > 


> > XML is the future :-)


> > 


> > /Morten Nielsen


> > http://www.iter.dk


> > 


> > _______________________________________________


> > Mapserver-users mailing list


> > Mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu


> > http://lists.gis.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users


> > 


> 


> -- 


> Paul Spencer


> Applications and Software Development


> DM Solutions Group Inc.


> http://www.dmsolutions.ca


> 


> 


> _______________________________________________


> Mapserver-users mailing list


> Mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu


> http://lists.gis.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users


> 



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