[mapserver-users] Re: Clipping returned WFS data to the requesting bounding box

[Jan Hartmann]

On 2010-11-29 22:11, Lime, Steve D (DNR) wrote:
> I'm not aware of any means to do this. If you're using PostGIS perhaps there's a way to use the !BOX! hack in conjunction with some of the analytical functions but it's a long shot... (see http://www.mail-archive.com/mapserver-users@lists.umn.edu/msg03006.html)
>
>

Quoting Paul Ramsey in the link above:
  
"
the evil "!BOX!" hack: In your data statement, if you compose it thusly:

DATA "the_geom from (select gid,the_geom from thetable where the_geom
&&  !BOX!) using unique gid"

When the postgis driver encounters the evil !BOX! it will replace it
with the current mapserver bounding box.
"

What exactly is the status of this demonic !BOX! hack? Is it described somewhere? Is the "current mapserver bounding box" queryable within MapServer itself?

Jan