[mapserver-users] Advice for MapServer project

[Fawcett, David]

Tim, 

If you plan to use a front end like dBox or OpenLayers, there is no need
to use MapScript.  They are designed to work with CGI MapServer.  I
would suggest focusing your learning on a javascript front-end and let
CGI MapServer serve up the maps.

David.

-----Original Message-----
From: mapserver-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:mapserver-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Timothy
Mashford
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:49 AM
To: mapserver-users at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [mapserver-users] Advice for MapServer project


Hi list, I am after some advice on how best to achieve a MapServer
project. I am a GIS professional (mainly MapInfo Pro), and I do a lot of
MapBasic programming, however I have limited experience with Python,
JavaScript, Java, VB and C.

My project is a Crime Mapping system where the user first selects a Date
Range of interest, and then views several thematic layers (crime,
traffic accidents etc) over standard base layers (roads, parks etc). It
will also require an address search function for navigation.

I am thinking that dbox.js would be a good interface, providing suitable
pan/zoom/query functions + layer control. The crime data could be stored
in PostGIS, also the address point data for searching. The base layers
would be updated only occasionally, so could be stored as ShapeFiles for
speedy rendering. And MapServer could be controlled with Python
MapScript.

So my question is: does all this sound suitable?? It will require me to
spend a bit of time learning more Python, JavaScript and PostgreSQL, so
I want to make sure I'm heading in the righ direction before I devote
too much effort!

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Tim Mashford.
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