Document method to enable geometry output in GML WMS GetFeatureInfo

[dmorissette]

With MapServer 5.4, WMS GetFeatureInfo in GML format returned only attributes but no geometry.

In ticket #2989, for 5.6, we added a way to enable the geometry output in GML2 WMS GetFeatureInfo using the wms_geometries and wms_geom_type metadata. (ows_* and gml_* metadata prefixes also work for this).

By default, WMS GetFeatureInfo in GML2 format does not include the geometry. To enable it, add those metadata to your layer(s). e.g. for a point layer

 LAYER
   TYPE POINT
   ...
   METADATA
     "ows_geometries" "mygeom"
     "ows_mygeom_type"  "point"
   END
   ...
 END

See the docs for gml_geometries and gml_[name]_type in http://mapserver.org/ogc/wfs_server.html. The same rules apply here except that there is no default geometry if *_geometries is not specified.

The WMS docs should be updated, possibly adding a small section on enabling geometry output for WMS GetFeatureInfo in GML2 format.

[dmorissette]

Further clarification on the behavior of WMS GetFeatureInfo in GML2 format:

• by default, no geometry output, only the bounding box of the feature (<gml:boundedBy>)
• geometry output can be enabled using gml_geometries and gml_[name]_type metadata as explained earlier
• the bounding box (and geometry) can be disabled using the "gml_geometries" "none" metadata

[rouault]

I'd suggest the attached documentation patch. Is it OK ?

[rouault]

Commited in trunk in r10705. Worth commiting in 5.6 branch ?

[dmorissette]

Sorry for the late response. Yes and Yes (yes what you wrote looks right to me, and yes it should be committed to the 5.6 branch as well). Thanks.

[rouault]

Commited in 5.6 branch in r10706