Foundation and Mapserver MAP file manag e tool

[Doyon, Jean-Francois]

Indeed, there are plenty of existing tools that could maybe be made more
MapServer friendly, notably by having features such as export to mapfile.

I think what Bart was talking about originally was a purpose built visual
tool for authoring mapserver maps, and not necessarily a full fledged GIS
system.  This is a big missing component when working with mapserver ...
MapFiles as text files work if the mapfiles are simple enough, but it can
get unwieldy quickly.  Batch processing of mapfiles comes to mind, as well
as re-use of certain map components (akin to an "INCLUDE").  Some
client/server functionality would be cool too (i.e.  "Publish to server"
type functionality).

Bascially, an enterprise tool around the existing mapserver.  I think the
current mapserver can be made "enterprise" class as it is, since the kind of
functionality needed to make mapserver "enterprise" isn't really mapping
related, but revolves more around how one works with mapfiles, data, etc ...

I very much see myself as representing an "enterprise" user type, and am
therefore very much interested in this stuff ...

Not to mention this could make mapserver more appealing to a wider audience,
which is always nice (again, without sacrificing mapserver's core
values/benefits).

J.F.

-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On
Behalf Of Jeff McKenna
Sent: December 14, 2005 1:53 PM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Foundation and Mapserver MAP file manag e
tool

good point...which reminds me of QGIS, which also has preliminary 'Export as
MapServer mapfile' support (also needs community support).

jeff



Jody Garnett wrote:
> We do have uDig based on Eclipse, and there is already talk of an 
> "Export to Geosever" plugin.



--
Jeff McKenna
DM Solutions Group Inc.
http://www.dmsolutions.ca