[Mapserver-users] dynamic mapfiles for many layers

[Matt Doggett]

I currently have a prototype Web app running using ASP and Javascript to
connect to ESRI's ArcIMS to serve up maps.  I am in the process of
converting this app to using MapServer.  Here's the rub.my application
has nearly 500 raster layers that are available for viewing.  The
ASP/Javascript provide the dynamic ability for the user to select which
raster the IMS should be rendering.  I noticed that MapServer has a
limit of 50 layers in the mapfile, though this can easily be changed by
recompiling the code.  But I'm thinking that there's probably a better,
more elegant way to make these hundreds of rasters available without
having hundreds of LAYER objects in a single mapfile.  So, I come to my
question.is there a way to generate a "dynamic" mapfile that can be
adjusted on the fly?  Or perhaps, the PHP/mapscript is the solution?
I'm not sure.  Since I'm pretty new to mapserver, I thought I would toss
this out to y'all and see what kind of responses I'd get.

Thanks

md

Matt Doggett
Spatial Climate Analysis Service
Oregon State University
316 Strand Ag Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541)737-9153
mdoggett at coas.oregonstate.edu