I'm getting in late on this, but what're the chances of using GML for
this functionality instead of trying to roll our own? GML's already OGC
recognized. Done right, it could cover most of the "stuff" we're
interested in, and could be readily extended (and OGC ratified,
probably) if we needed to.
Gerry
Gregory S. Williamson wrote:
Well, nobody would have to use the db mode, but I personally would find that
easier than XML, which I find notoriously sensitive to misplaced spaces and the
like. The readability of binary combined with the terseness of ASCII.
That said, XML might give some excellent options in communicating map data to
other systems, GIS or not. The database would more less transportable, but
perhaps would gain in some other ways (ACID aspects, internal safety/sanity
checks, etc.). Such a db interface would want to use fairly limited SQL to
support various databases such a Postgres, Oracle, MySQL, etc.
In general I've found that any non-trivial map is semi-hard to edit and read,
and tools to help automate map file production would be a great help. It would
allow for more customization for different users, IMHO.
Greg Williamson
DBA (natch)
GlobeXplorer LLC
-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List on behalf of Umberto Nicoletti
Sent: Thu 12/15/2005 3:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Foundation and Mapserver MAP file
manag e tool
The trouble with databases is that they could be more difficult to
edit by hand than a xml file. Withoud a db involved the user would not
have to learn sql to be able to modifiy a map definition directly.
[OT]
In my app I use and XML to Java objects mapping tool called digester
and then use Velocity templates to generate the map file: Velocity
templates are also very intuitive and would enable users to mantain
many different versions depending on mapserver version for instance.
[/OT]
Regards,
Umberto
On 12/15/05, Norman Barker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Jeroen Ticheler
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:19 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Foundation and Mapserver MAP file
manag e tool
Fully support this! I'm also looking for a DTD/schema that can
produce valid Map files.
MapServer may have to be modified in some parts to make sure it is
consistent throughout when running map services based on files
created by the schema.
Also OGC specific parts have to be included in such schema to make
sure we can quickly generate valid map files with OGC WMS/WCS and WFS
support.
I would like to use such such schema to create XSL transformations of
metadata (ISO19115) stored in GeoNetwork opensource to generate map
files for data producing OGC services (even on the fly).
I would also use it to do XSL transformations of AXL documents I
export from ArcMap using the MXD2AXL I developed to create map files
straight out of ArcMap.
Ciao,
Jeroen
On 15 Dec 2005, at 00:01, Bob Basques wrote:
Steve,
Ok, now we're talking, XML!! Yeah, I even have a body here I can
put to work on something like this with some direction from the
rest of the community.
<snip>
Hi,
I have been using XML / XSL for a while to create map files for our services.
From my experience it is easier to use a database (hypersonic is very light) or
MySQL and then use the SQL extensions for stylesheets
(http://xml.apache.org/xalan-j/extensionslib.html) this broadens the
applications of this technology, e.g. you could have web app updating the
database, eclipse reading either the database or xml file or 'data objects'.
Whilst a schema enforces the correctness of an XML file, it doesn't support the
transactional features of a database, allowing you to rollback etc.
XSL is definitely the way to go though (IMHO), it is easy to use and learn.
Norman
!DSPAM:43a156c425721133564134!
--
Gerry Creager -- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.847.8578
Page: 979.228.0173
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