US overview

[Norman Vine]

This question comes up a lot and my usually advice is

""One can utilize the fact that the line segments for the
coastline are probably only referenced once whereas
the internal boundaries are referenced twice and thin 
a dataset appropriately""

or just use this shapefile where this has been done for you :-)

http://coastalmap.marine.usgs.gov/GISdata/basemaps/boundaries/state_bounds/state_bounds.htm

Cheers

Norman

> -----Original Message-----
> From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU]On
> Behalf Of Jeff Portwine
> Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 10:24 AM
> To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] US overview
> 
> 
> I didn't see any responses to Jerl's question, but I'm actually having the 
> same problem.   I like to use a thick line to indicate state borders, but I 
> don't like the thick line along the coast of the country.. especially in the 
> Rhode Island area where there are a lot of small bays and inlets and such, 
> half the state gets obscured by the border line :-)
> 
> Is there any solution to this?  I have seen maps that didn't show state 
> boundries along the coastline before , but I don't know how it was done.
> 
> -Jeff
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jerl Simpson" <jerl.simpso at GMAIL.COM>
> To: <MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 11:33 AM
> Subject: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] US overview
> 
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I'm looking for a shapefile that outlines each state, but does not
> have an outline at the shoreline.  This way I can put up a dotted line
> to show state borders, but not have that line running around the
> oceans.
> Or if someone could tell me how to go about doing this I would greatly
> appreciate it.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jerl
>