Does a Map File PHP Parser/Writer Class Exist?

[Abe Gillespie]

Isn't PHP MapScript parser enough?  You can easily read and write
MapFiles this way.

-Abe

On 12/16/05, Larry Shaffer <larry at shafferinteractive.com> wrote:
> Does a Map File PHP Parser/Writer Class Exist? If so, is one available to
> the Open Source community for inclusion in other apps?
>
> I'm writing a PHP/CMS app with a cartographic section and want admin
> users to be able to manipulate Map files through a PHP 'administrative
> panel.' This would be straightforward if Map files where XML-based, but
> this is not the case. I know MapLab edits Map files, but I would like to
> build a simplified version, because my symbol set is standardized and the
> layers will usually be just raster-based or standardized shapefiles, but
> with a direct uploading 'bypass' of Map files for those very limited
> number of users who know how to edit them directly.
>
> Most users of my app will only want to learn the bare minimum to have my
> app's Mapserver-related pages display their work. Most will not even know
> what a shapefile is, let alone a Map file! The shapefiles are only an
> export from another program most of the users use - so the outputted
> shapefile is always the same structure, just different content.
>
> --
> Larry
>