[Fwd: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] symbols in mapfile or symbolset file?]

[Dolf Andringa]

Nicol showd be the link below as an answer to my question, which it 
would be if I was using PHPMapscript, but I am using the python 
mapscript module. the nomal mapscript API 
(http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/docs/reference/mapscript/index_html) does 
not seem to offer this possibility. Is that correct? To me it would be 
very logical if you could just create a mapObj, then create symbolSetObj 
and then some symbolObj's, add the symbolObj's to the symbolSetObj and 
add the symbolSetObj to the mapObj. Just like you can create classObj's, 
add them to layerObj's, and add layerObj's to a mapObj. I am trying this 
to circumvent the problem I posted yesterday with the strange parsing 
error when adding a symbolset file to a mapObj.
Hope somebody can help me with either of the problems.

Dolf.

Nicol Hermann schreef:
> Dolf,
> 
> you can add symbols to the mapObj via mapscript. 
> See e.g.
> http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/docs/reference/phpmapscript-class/classes/symbolobj
> 
> HTH Nicol
> 
> Am Donnerstag, den 11.01.2007, 14:07 +0100 schrieb Dolf Andringa:
>> Yeah I know. THe question is just where I define them. When you normally 
>> use mapfiles you create a separate symbolset file with your symbol 
>> definitions and in the mapfile in the map description you add 
>> "symbolsetfile <filename>" or you directly put the symbol descriptions 
>> in the map description instead of in a separate file.
>>
>> I am not writing mapfiles though, I am creating maps using mapscript 
>> (and directly draw them). And mapscript does not give you the option to 
>> add symbols to the mapObj, it just gives you the possibility to add a 
>> separate symbolSet file to the mapObj. That is my point. When I manually 
>> write mapfiles, I have the option to either define my symbols directly 
>> in the map  description or in a separate file and reference that from 
>> the map description. With mapscript I do not have that option.
>>
>> Dolf
>>
>> Kai Behncke schreef:
>>> On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:28:59 +0100, Dolf Andringa wrote
>>>> sorry, meant to send it to the mailinglist, not just Kristian.
>>>>
>>>> -------- Originele bericht --------
>>>> Onderwerp: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] symbols in mapfile or symbolset 
>>>> file?
>>>> Datum: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:28:13 +0100 Van: Dolf Andringa
>>> <dolf.andringa at elcyion.nl>
>>>> Aan: Thy, Kristian <Kristian.Thy at ATKINSGLOBAL.COM>
>>>> Referenties: <CE2BE61DABB9384A934BD4E648DFDA37B7E86D at EXCVS1.rdg.bane.dk>
>>>>
>>>> Ok,thanks. I don't think it is possible to do this with mapscript though
>>>> is it? It would be nice if there was an addSymbol method on the 
>>>> mapObj object in mapscript which allows you to add symbols to the 
>>>> map declaration. Or am I completely missing something?
>>>>
>>>> Dolf.
>>> Hi Dolf,
>>> normally you need to define symbols by yourself, or you use code that other
>>> user have produced.
>>>
>>>
>>> One example to define it inside a mapfile:
>>>
>>> SCALEBAR
>>>   STATUS embed
>>>   TRANSPARENT off
>>>   INTERVALS 4
>>>   SIZE 200 3
>>>   UNITS kilometers
>>>   COLOR 250 250 250
>>>   OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
>>>   BACKGROUNDCOLOR 100 100 100
>>>   STYLE 0
>>>   POSTLABELCACHE true
>>>   LABEL
>>>     COLOR 0 0 90
>>>     #OUTLINECOLOR 200 200 200
>>>     SIZE small
>>>   END  
>>> END  
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> # SYMBOLS USED IN PMAPPER
>>> # - 'circle' always necessary (used e.g. for highlight)
>>> # - 'square' used in currecnt map file
>>> # Symbols can also be defined via tag SYMBOLSET (see above)
>>> Symbol
>>>   Name 'circle'
>>>   Type ELLIPSE
>>>   Filled TRUE
>>>   Points
>>>     1 1
>>>   END
>>> END
>>>
>>> Symbol
>>>   Name 'square'
>>>   Type VECTOR
>>>   Filled TRUE
>>>   Points
>>>     0 1
>>>     0 0
>>>     1 0
>>>     1 1
>>>     0 1
>>>   END
>>> END
>>>
>>>
>>> #================== START OF LAYER SECTION =====================#
>>>
>>>
>>> LAYER
>>>   NAME "jpl_wms_global_mosaic"
>>>   TYPE RASTER
>>>   STATUS OFF
>>>   CONNECTION
>>> ............
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> But in my opinion, if you have quite a lot symbols:
>>> Use the symbolfile for it. Its cleaner,
>>> Regards, Kai
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dipl.-Geogr. Dipl.-Umweltwiss. Kai Behncke
>>>
>>> Institut für Geoinformatik und Fernerkundung (IGF)
>>> Universität Osnabrück
>>> Kolpingstr. 7
>>> 49074 Osnabrück
>>>
>>> Raum: 01/308
>>> Tel.: +49 541 969-4450
>>> E-Mail: mailto:kbehncke at igf.uni-osnabrueck.de 
>>> Web:  http://www.igf.uni-osnabrueck.de
>>
>