Mapfile Snippet Library / Open Source Cartographic Elements

[Howard Butler]

I also think this would be a great idea.  A "Code Snippets" section 
of the website would be very useful.  I was thinking it could go 
right in the "Documentation" area as just another section.

I'm pretty busy these days, but I plan to get back to doing some 
MapServer website development soon.  No hard promises, but look for 
something over the next couple of months (I'll give you a heads up 
when something is there).  Anyone who really wants to make this 
happen faster and isn't afraid to get their hands *really* dirty with 
plone should contact me off-list.

Howard

At 12:18 PM 1/18/2006, Fawcett, David wrote:
>Great idea David. =20
>
>I have long thought that it would be great to have a repository for
>symbol definition, sample symbol files, etc. =20
>
>Your idea of adding images or screenshots makes it a lot better!
>
>David.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On
>Behalf Of David Bitner
>Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:56 AM
>To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
>Subject: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Mapfile Snippet Library / Open Source
>Cartographic Elements
>
>
>What would be the appropriate place (is there an appropriate place) on
>the mapserver site to create a library of little pieces from a mapfile
>that could be reused by others.  I am thinking things like Styles, Class
>Definitions, Font Files, etc..
>
>I would love to see a place where someone could find examples of code
>with either screenshots or links to an application using that code for
>styling so that anyone looking to start with the creation of mapfiles
>could just grab some pieces from the snippet library and get on thier
>way.  Alternately, with a commenting system, all the great cartographers
>that are part of this community could give input and we could
>potentially get some collaboratively developed cartography.
>
>As an example, I would love to see a section dedicated to roads.  As
>part of this, I would love to see font files for symbols if anyone has
>developed any, any particular styles people have come to use and then
>the sections of code displaying all the classes for both lines and
>annotation.  I know that there are some really slick looking roads
>definitions using both "centerline" style roads as well as "curb to
>curb" ie google maps style roads.
>
>I know that designing styles is not difficult per se, but it can
>definitely take a lot of futzing around to get something that looks good
>and looking through all the apps out there, there are obviously some
>folks who have done more futzing than others.  I think something like
>this could leverage the abilities (and tastes) of the whole community to
>try to raise the bar for visual appearance of Mapserver output.
>
>Any Comments?  Anyone else willing to add to a library like this?
>
>David