[OGC:SOS] Warnings missing from GetCapabilities

[jmckenna@…]

when required metadata is missing no warning is returned by GetCapabilities.

WMS and missing metadata:

<!-- WARNING: Mandatory metadata ... was missing in this context. -->

[assefa]

reassigned.

[tomkralidis]

Jeff/Assefa:

Most required mapfile metadata that is missing for mapogcsos.c will return a service exception because of the way OGC:SOS works, so I think we're okay there.

As for the rest of OGC:SOS GetCapabilities, since mapogcsos.c calls mapowscommon.c for these XML, I've skimmed through OWS Common 1.0.0. Most metadata elements are optional. Only _contactorganization is a required element.

I've put logic in mapowscommon.c to provide a warning for _contactorganization because it's required. Do we want the same for optional OWS Common metadata which is not set in the mapfile? If yes, I will update and commit for all mapfile generated metadata in mapowscommon.c. If no, I will commit the fix for _contactorganization.

Please advise.

[dmorissette]

I don't think we have produced warnings for optional metadata in the past, at least I think that's true for WMS. I think I used to put warnings only for required items such as layer title or SRS. In those cases when information is missing MapServer tried to set a suitable default and issued a Warning. If it was not possible to set a default value then MapServer would produce an exception.

Oh, I think I also put warnings for things that were becoming a FAQ because lots of users would repeat the same mistake (I don't have any example in mind right now but I seem to remember doing that.)

In summary, there is no hard rule to decide whether warnings are required or not... just ask yourself whether as a user a warning would be useful or not in a situation where a given piece of information is missing.

[tomkralidis]

I've added tests for all mapfile metadata (required / optional) used in mapowscommon.c (r6123).

Closing this ticket.