Changes between Version 4 and Version 5 of FAQ


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Timestamp:
Jan 27, 2009, 10:40:47 AM (15 years ago)
Author:
jmckenna
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  • FAQ

    v4 v5  
    1414== How do I find out what developments are going on in !MapServer? ==
    1515
    16   * Starting with MapServer 3.6, a HISTORY.TXT file is included in the source package and documents the changes between releases and their impact on users.
     16  * Starting with !MapServer 3.6, a HISTORY.TXT file is included in the source package and documents the changes between releases and their impact on users.
    1717  * Also check the [wiki:ReleasePlans]
    1818  * [http://www.mapserver.org/development/rfc/index.html MapServer RFCs] list all of the major changes and include discussions
    1919
    20 What are the most significant changes in the last year or so? I haven't used Mapserver for about 18 months. What might I be most excited about?
     20== What are the most significant changes in the last year or so? I haven't used Mapserver for about 18 months. What might I be most excited about? ==
    2121
    22     Well, the last 18 (this was written on 7/3/02) months have seen the releases of 3.5 and 3.6. Version 3.5 was a major reworking of the MapServer internals and could have been called 4.0. Most importantly 3.5 leveled the playing field across data sources. Anything you could do with shapefiles could now be done with OGR datasources, SDE or even PostGIS. This included query support.
     22    Well, the last 18 (this was written on 7/3/02) months have seen the releases of 3.5 and 3.6. Version 3.5 was a major reworking of the !MapServer internals and could have been called 4.0. Most importantly 3.5 leveled the playing field across data sources. Anything you could do with shapefiles could now be done with OGR datasources, SDE or even PostGIS. This included query support.
    2323
    24     3.5 also marked the start of MapServer support for the OpenGIS WMS standard. MapServer could act as a WMS server AND could act as a WMS client (cascading MapServer). GML output also made it debut.
     24    3.5 also marked the start of MapServer support for the !OpenGIS WMS standard. !MapServer could act as a WMS server AND could act as a WMS client (cascading !MapServer). GML output also made it debut.
    2525
    26     3.6 was much more of a maintenance release although there were new features added. See the above question for a reference to the change log. DM Solutions introduced their PHP MapServer management tools based on the 3.6 release.
     26    3.6 was much more of a maintenance release although there were new features added. See the above question for a reference to the change log. DM Solutions introduced their PHP !MapServer management tools based on the 3.6 release.
    2727
    2828    3.7 is in the works and will be more of a major release with the main features being the addition of 24-bit input/output support (yeah!) and advanced symbolization options (drop shadows, multiple stacked symbols, feature offsets) using the new style object.
    2929
    30 Is there an easier way to edit .map/mapfiles files?
     30== Is there an easier way to edit .map/mapfiles files? ==
    3131
    32     You could try loading and using mapEditor for mapserver available at:
     32  * [http://www.qgis.org Quantum GIS] has the ability to export mapfiles
     33  * [http://www.mapstorer.org/ MapStorer] can also be used with a database backend to manage mapfiles
    3334
    34         http://software-dkplan.carlbro.dk/mapEditor/index.html
     35== Anytime I put numbers in the MAXSCALEDENOM? / MINSCALEDENOM?, the layers are not displayed at all. I have put numbers of varying ranges in, but no luck. Any ideas? ==
    3536
    36     or the web based MapLab? suite from DM Solutions:
     37Try putting a [scale] tag in your template to view the range of scale values that your map produces as you zoom in and out. This will help you in figuring the numbers to use as minscaledenom and maxscaledenom.
    3738
    38         http://www2.dmsolutions.ca/webtools/maplab/
     39Also, if the scale value is not in the range that you expect it may be because the UNITS at the top level of your map are not set properly. The UNITS parameter must correspond to the units used by the EXTENT in your mapfile.
    3940
    40 How do I increase the number of allowed symbols/maxsymbols?
     41== Why isn't the map file in XML format? XML is really cool... ==
    4142
    42          1. Change MS_MAXSYMBOLS in mapsymbol.h by hand
    43          2. Use the perl-oneliner:
    44 
    45           perl -p -i'.orig' -e 's/#define MS_MAXSYMBOLS \d+/#define MS_MAXSYMBOLS 128/' mapsymbol.h
    46           (thanks Markus Spring)
    47 
    48     Then recompile.
    49 
    50 Anytime I put numbers in the MaxScale? / MinScale?, the layers are not displayed at all. I have put numbers of varying ranges in, but no luck. Any ideas?
    51 
    52     Try putting a [scale] tag in your template to view the range of scale values that your map produces as you zoom in and out. This will help you in figuring the numbers to use as minscale and maxscale.
    53 
    54     Also, if the scale value is not in the range that you expect it may be because the UNITS at the top level of your map are not set properly. The UNITS parameter must correspond to the units used by the EXTENT in your mapfile.
    55 
    56 Why isn't the map file in XML format? XML is really cool...
    57 
    58     This topic has surfaced a few times on the mailing list, here are some threads. My own recollection is that an XML map file would make Mapserver more complex for little benefit, and that other functionality is higher up on the wish list. But if you think you know why the map file should be XML, you can always have another try convincing people.
     43    This topic has surfaced a few times on the mailing list, here are some threads. My own recollection is that an XML map file would make !MapServer more complex for little benefit, and that other functionality is higher up on the wish list. But if you think you know why the map file should be XML, you can always have another try convincing people.
     44 
    5945    http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/data2/wilma/mapserver-users/0005/msg00057.html
    6046    http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/data2/wilma/mapserver-users/0010/msg00161.html
    6147    http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=266
    6248
    63     Comment: Many people who know enough about XML to make a convincing argument also have the skills needed to change the Mapserver code to add the feature. Instead of trying to convince others you can do it yourself, find a programmer who wants to help, or pay a programmer. Or start by breaking up the code into relevant fragments so others can code part of it while you're working in one corner. A programmer could make Mapserver recognize an XML map file in addition to the current map file format, so XML can be used by those who want it. An improvement is to allow Mapserver to write an XML version of a map file (from either format) in a way which allows use in a script to do conversion.
     49    Comment: Many people who know enough about XML to make a convincing argument also have the skills needed to change the Mapserver code to add the feature. Instead of trying to convince others you can do it yourself, find a programmer who wants to help, or pay a programmer. Or start by breaking up the code into relevant fragments so others can code part of it while you're working in one corner. A programmer could make !MapServer recognize an XML map file in addition to the current map file format, so XML can be used by those who want it. An improvement is to allow !MapServer to write an XML version of a map file (from either format) in a way which allows use in a script to do conversion.
    6450
    65 How do I add a north arrow to my maps
     51== How do I add a north arrow to my maps ==
    6652
    6753    Add the following to your symbols. The GIF should of course be an existing file.