[OpenLayers-Users] Difference between OpenLayers and Map Builder

[Robert Buzink]

hi SuneelKota,

MapBuilder is an online service to create maps using the Google and Yahoo
map api's. OpenLayers is a api itself that can be used to build a map. As
far as I know there is no online service to build a map using the Openlayers
api.

The disadvantage of MapBuilder is that it creates a Yahoo or Google map,
which means that you are stuck with either of them. When you build a map
using Openlayers your users can switch between Yahoo and Google or
Virtualearth with a mouseclick if you want to or you can switch to either of
them by changing one line of code (!). In other words, Openlayers makes you
independent and flexible.

In addition Openlayers provides advanced features like projecting all kind
of map-layers (wms-layers, imagelayers) and uses the overlay-structure,
which  lets you organize markers is sets that can be hidden  and shown by
the user.

Because Openlayers can use the same mapdata as Yahoo and Google, there are
no disadvantages really (not that I can think off) except maybe that there
is no online tool to build an Openlayers map. Building an Openlayers map is
however quite easy, so this disadvantage is rather minimal.

If you are looking for a no effort way to have a dynamic Openlayers based
map, try WikiMap (http://wikimap.sf.net). WikiMap is a really easy to
install Openlayers and WordPress based mapping content management
system/community application written in php and using a mysql database,
fully configurable through your own web-interface :-). It provides you with
a mapping application without writing one line of code, but also without
preventing you from doing so. Well, isn't that what everybody wants? :-).

WikiMap, WordPress and Openlayers are open source programs which means among
other things that you can be sure that you can use them  without ever being
surprised by advertising or fees or such annoyances.

Apart from that: everyone knows Google maps and is not impressed by them
anymore, but if you provide your users/visitors with an Openlayers map that
can switch between different providers and can do all kinds of other cool
things, well that's something else...

 Hope this helps,

Robert.

PS There is a new version of WikiMap with major enhancements coming out
within a week or so...

On 2/1/07, suneel kota <suneel.kota at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
>           I am using OpenLayers in my project.. Can anybody tell me
> the advantages of OpenLayers over MapBuilder.
> Still i am in confusion which one to use(OpenLayers and MapBuilder..)
>
> Please help me out.
>
> Regards
> SuneelKota
>
>
>
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> Users at openlayers.org
> http://openlayers.org/mailman/listinfo/users
>
>


-- 
Robert Buzink, website ontwerp en ontwikkeling
Sint-Pietersaalststraat 123
9000 Gent
+32 (0)9 33 00 267
+32 (0)487 548 414
post at robertbuzink.nl
robertbuzink.nl/webdesign
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