[OSGeo BC] Interested in learning how to setup a web mapping program

[Mark Blackmore]

Tyler - Thanks for getting back to me I really appreciate it. I've been meaning to purchase your book as it looks like a great guide in getting Mapserver up and running. My situation is this, I've downloaded Mapserver (not the latest version, it was about 5 months ago I think, so maybe the second latest) for windows, now I'm just trying figure out where I program the output imagery. Ie what file do I use to tell the program where my shapefiles are and how the map will look. If I can get to this stage then I'm sure I can go from there. I really appreciate your help on this and thank you for sending me those links, they look like they will come in handy. If you are ever in Vancouver perhaps we could meet up and go for a coffee and talk about some of the projects we both are working on. I would also like to attend one of your workshops so please keep me in the loop. Have a great long weekend!

Mark

--- On Thu, 5/14/09, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitchell at osgeo.org> wrote:

From: Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitchell at osgeo.org>
Subject: Re: [OSGeo BC] Interested in learning how to setup a web mapping program
To: "OSGeo Local Chapter, British Columbia, Canada" <osgeo-bc at lists.osgeo.org>
Received: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 9:59 PM

On 14-May-09, at 2:26 PM, Mark Blackmore wrote:

> Hello!
> 
> I'm a GIS Technician working in Vancouver, and I would love to learn more about web mapping tools. I have downloaded the latest version of Mapserver but I'm have some difficulty in setting it up. I have limited knowledge of web development (when I graduated from University web mapping was still in its infancy). I'm wondering if anyone out there can provide some user friendly guidlines or training in using Open source GIS. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
> 
> Mark Blackmore

Hi Mark, greetings from the Interior (aka Way Up There).  There are quite a few resources scattered around.  If you have a few loonies to spend, you might find my book useful [1] - it touches on most of the aspect of needing to get MapServer up and running.

Okay, sales pitch over.. Where are you getting stuck?  One approach I recommend (and wrote about) is using what used to be called MapServer for Windows. [2]  Are you using this package?  It is going to eventually be superceded by OSGeo For Windows package,[3] but I think both still work.

They both come with Apache web server preconfigured for your use.  You can also install some sample MapServer applications and use those as starting points.

If you are using Linux, there are other options I can tell you about.[4]

Hope these give you a bit of direction.  More of us can probably help you as you move along and tell a bit more about how far you made it so far.  But in the meantime you may also want to search the OSGeo curriculum database to find courses that might help. [5]

I, along with a couple other power users, give a workshop each year at the FOSS4G conference event.[6]  It has an online workshop guide that might help you.  I also come to Vancouver every month or two.  If there was interest in a MapServer Basics workshop I could help with that.

Best wishes,
Tyler

[1] http://oreilly.com/catalog/webmapping - Web Mapping Illustrated
[2] http://maptools.org/ms4w - MS4W packages
[3] http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/ - OSGeo4W installer
[4] http://www.maptools.org/fgs/ - FOSS GIS Suite for Linux installer
[5] http://www.osgeo.org/educational_content - search for course material
[6] http://conference.osgeo.org/index.php/foss4g/2008/paper/view/24 - Workshop material
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