[mapserver-users] Using MapServer for Variable Data Printing

[Stephen Woodbridge]

Jeff,

Here is a high level overview of what you need to do:

You will likely need tools for:

1. geocoding
2. routing
3. mapping

And you will need data to power each of these for the quality and 
coverage area that your are interested.

Then you will need to glue these together into an application that 
allows you or a user to define a print map or family of maps as in a 
mailer where each map is a template using a unique address or location 
like in a mail merge.

Each tools above will have its own issues and learning curve.

Part of your difficultly finding information is that this is a specific 
use application and those that exist were probably purpose built. So it 
you want to build it yourself, then I might think about starting with 
OpenLayers and using some existing webservices to get started building 
you application. Then you can migrate the webservices over to your own 
internal tools as you need to.

<shameless plug>
You could also look at http://imaptools.com/ for geocoding, routing, and 
mapping solutions that you could drop into you application on the server 
side. I'm sure there are others that have similar offerings.
</shameless plug>

Hope this helps with the overall context.

-Steve W

On 8/24/2010 1:44 PM, Jeff Harlow wrote:
> 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
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________ mapserver-users
>> mailing list mapserver-users at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users
>>
>>
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