[Mapserver-users] .shp file to .map file

[Norbert Thieme]

Alexander Lim schrieb:
> hi guys,
> 
> sorry for this totally newbie question.
> 
> i just got everything setup including php/mapscript.
> and i m starting to read the how-to by example. my
> question is on map file that mapserver uses. does this
> map file follows a "universal" standard just like .shp
> file or is it solely a mapserver format. the reason i
> m asking this is that i have .shp files of a country
> which were converted from mapinfo map and tab file
> format. is there a converter to convert .shp to
> mapserver map file or can i even use .shp file
> directly. 
> 
> thanks for any advice.
> 
> alex
> 
> 
> 	
> 		
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Hi.

.shp and .map files are not the same. .shp/.shx/.dbf are data files and 
a .map file is - let's say something like a config file for the data 
written in normal and readable text. There's is nothing to convert but 
have a look at:

http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/contributed.html

there are sure some tools to easily generate a map file.

You can also write it yourself in a normal text file with an simple 
editor and change .txt to .map. Look at:

http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/doc40/mapfile-reference.html

If you have a mapfile then there are layers where you can specify your 
data like .shp files. So you can use the .shp directly.

Regards,
Norbert