[mapserver-users] Using MapServer for Variable Data Printing

[Jeff Harlow]

Sorry the link is from a 3rd party provider, not us. I want to make something internal that does the same thing. Doing a Google search, I find tons on companies doing this but nothing on how to do it internally.  The routing ptp would be part of the final product. I will check on geocoder.us and see what I can find.  I am having a rough time locating any information on how to make this happen.  Thanks.

Jeff Harlow
Network Administrator
Wright's Media
2407 Timberloch Pl. Ste. B
The Woodlands, TX 77380
http://www.wrightsmedia.com
P: 281.419.5725
F: 281.419.5712


-----Original Message-----
From: pramsey at cleverelephant.ca [mailto:pramsey at cleverelephant.ca] On Behalf Of Paul Ramsey
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 12:16 PM
To: Jeff Harlow
Cc: mapserver-users at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: Re: [mapserver-users] Using MapServer for Variable Data Printing

Yep, it can be done. I'm afraid a "how to" on your specific problem is well beyond the scope of an e-mail list response, but if you take the time to learn MapServer you'll find you can generate the images you want to embed in your mailings.  Based on your website it seems like doing so would be core technology you would already have! :)

(One thing on your website that mapserver won't provide is routing, you'll need to add in other technology to generate point-to-point routes and geocoded place markers, either calling web services, or installing your own systems like pgrouting and geocoder.us)

P

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Jeff Harlow <jharlow at wrightsmedia.com> wrote:
> Sorry if this has been asked. I do not recognize the user group system 
> used here and cannot figure out how to search.
>
>
>
> I am looking for a way to create JPG or PNG files using variable data 
> that will be used in printing out postcards.  Check out
> (http://www.variablemaps.com/) for an example.  We are an in-house 
> print shop, so I am looking to do this in-house as well (versus using 
> someone else's service).  Will MapServer/OpenMap provide me with a way 
> in connection with SQL Server 2008 to create on the fly images for 
> variable data maps?  If so, can you direct me to the how-to in order 
> to get started with this? If not, what should I be looking for that 
> would do the same?  I know Google has a service similar but we are 
> looking at well over a thousand maps that would be created for a 
> particular postcard and will continue throughout a specified time. Thanks.
>
>
>
> Jeff Harlow
>
> Network Administrator
>
> Wright's Media
>
> 2407 Timberloch Pl. Ste. B
>
> The Woodlands, TX 77380
>
> http://www.wrightsmedia.com
>
> P: 281.419.5725
>
> F: 281.419.5712
>
>
>
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>