NEW Mapserver Application

[Brant Anderson]

With the CGI you are passing arguments to the URL. The Mapfile has templates
that it parses to create different views. With MapScript you are
manipulating the map through code. In your case you would be using .NET
MapScript API calls. Using MapScript, as far as I know, the templates are
not used. Instead you'll have to write your own views.

Steve's mapserv.js manipulates the CGI argument string. Look at the code for
that, it has a wealth of starting point knowledge.
http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/tools/dbox/

In my opinion, the MapScript API is easier to work with because if you
already know a web-programming language, you only need to learn the API; you
don't need to figure out how to setup templates or how to manipulate the CGI
argument string.

Also, read this post:
http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/data2/wilma/mapserver-users/0311/msg00147.html

To answer the unanswered question from that post:
>>Why would I want to use Mapscript?
You have favorite a web-programming language you like to write applications
with.

>>Which benefits does it give me?
More flexible application development. A smaller learning curve (for me
anyway).

>>Simply better control?
Yes. IMHO.

Hope that helps,
Brant


On Nov 21, 2007 12:18 AM, Saka Royban <srph124 at yahoo.com > wrote:

> Hi
> can i ask a basic question?
> what's the difference between using Mapscript and CGI?
> i'm a bit familiar  with Asp.net and its architecture of web programming
> but i'm confused about the different ways of prgramming UMN mapserver.
> THX
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Brant Anderson <rabrant at GMAIL.COM>
> To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:14:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] NEW Mapserver Application
>
> >> Question 1   Can somebody suggest which is the best option to develop
> my
> >> application CGI or Mapscript..
> I agree with Marcos. The CGI is a good starting point to get your feet
> wet. That's where I began. Until one day I decided to take the leap. I'd
> recommend using MapScript with a language that you're comfortable with.
>
> I tried MapScript using Python. I found that I could develop an app easier
> using MapScript than with the CGI.
>
> Eventually, I started developing Ruby on Rails apps. So I thought I'd give
> Ruby/MapScript a try. I'm not sure what has changed in Ruby/MapScript since
> the 5.0.0 release. But I found that my application was buggy when I
> switched from 4 to 5. If you're going to try Ruby/MapScript, I'd recommend
> using version 4.10 of MapServer.
>
> >> Question 2   Which is the best software available for developing user
> >> interface. (Cartography). Is their a basic version available as a start
> >> point. like mapserver itasca demo.
> You stated that you're using Linux. You might want to look into Quantum
> GIS. I think there is a MapServer Mapfile Export feature. I haven't tried
> it, so I'm not sure how it works.
>
> Best Regards,
> Brant
>
>
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