I hear ya Bart, it's so needed. I for one think such a tool is very
useful (whenever we travel internationally it's MapLab that we're known
for it seems), and a few of us continue to help support MapLab users for
that reason. But something is definitely needed.
If you haven't already, take a run-through of the MSE Studio
product. It seems to allow for exactly what Steve mentioned - creating
pre-styled layers that are available in multiple applications.
jeff
Steve Lime wrote:
I agree totally with Frank's assessment of the role of a foundation.
If this is to happen I think it needs to be driven internally from
within the MapServer community.
I too think it necessary, but I'm not envisioning a web-based tool.
I'd love to see a map portfolio management tool developed. Something
to manage common sets of configuration elements. At the DNR we have
20+ applications of various levels of complexity and in each one of
them we have a lakes layer, always drawn the same. It would be cool
if you could define a lakes layer "template" that would contain base
info like color, datasource and such and then could develop
"instances" of that template for specific applications. Each instance
might have be a bit different but would draw upon the same template.
Change the template and all the instances change, change an instance
and the template (and other apps) are untouched. The management
application would allow you to drag instances of a template into a
new configuration (or create new ones). Perhaps this could be done
via the web. I was also thinking about the possibilty of using
Eclipse to build a MapServer IDE. Just some thoughts...
Steve
Frank Warmerdam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 12/14/05 8:43 AM >>>
On 12/14/05, Eijnden, B. van den (Bart)
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi list,
still one of the things really missing around Mapserver is a good
universal web-based visual management tool for MAP files, which can
export/deploy MAP files as well as import existing MAP files.
Are there plans within the Foundation to address this?
Bart,
There aren't any specific plans for the foundation to pursue
technical developments like this. In fact, there is some question to
what extent the foundation itself out to be driving or sponsoring
software development. So in that realm things are "to be
determined".
In any event, there are several web based interfaces to mapfiles
already in existance, such as the MapLab from maptools.org. I'm not
convinced that any of them are "universal" or even all that great but
then I haven't done any in depth investigation.
I'm not really sure how practical and useful such a tool would be.
And to some extent building such a thing would be stepping on the
toes of a number of existing projects - something that should not be
done lightly by the foundation.
Best regards,
--
Jeff McKenna
DM Solutions Group Inc.
http://www.dmsolutions.ca
