Changes between Initial Version and Version 1 of maestro/UserGuides/MapGuideBasics

Timestamp:

09/29/08 12:33:35 (16 years ago)

Author:

ksgeograf

Comment:

--

maestro/UserGuides/MapGuideBasics

@@ +1 @@
+== !MapGuide Maestro User Guides ==
+This page contains instructions for [wiki:maestro MapGuide Maestro] usage.
+
+== Understanding !MapGuide Terminology ==
+Before you can start using !MapGuide Maestro, you must understand how !MapGuide
+divides the different parts that make up a map. To understand the !MapGuide Maestro
+interface, you must also have a knowledgde of the names used in !MapGuide.
+
+=== Spatial data and regular data ===
+Data can come from a number of sources, such as a spread sheet or a database.
+Some data is spatially enabled, and this means that it has one or more columns
+of data that describes a geometric entry. Such data is usually called vector data.
+In spatially enabled data, the non-spatial data is usually called "attributes".
+
+Some data has an X and Y column (or LAT/LON), and is thus not spatially enabled.
+MapGuide can treat such data as if it was spatially enabled though.
+
+Another type of data is raster data, which is typically some form of aerial foto.
+
+!MapGuide uses [http://fdo.osgeo.org/ FDO] to connect to data, and calls each connection
+a "!FeatureSource", regardless of what type of data it points to.
+
+A "!FeatureSource" does not have any information about how it looks, it's just lines,
+polygons and points.
+
+=== Displaying data ===
+In !MapGuide a "!LayerDefinition" is used to describe how to represent a layer visually.
+This distinction between data and representation, means that you can define your 
+"!FeatureSource" once, and display it in red, green and blue.
+
+In a "!LayerDefinition" you define how the layer should look in different
+"!ScaleRanges". A "!ScaleRange" is defined by two numbers, and while the map
+is displayed at a given scale, !MapGuide will show it as the first matching
+"!ScaleRange". If you define a "!ScaleRange" 0 - 1000 and one 1001 - 2000, you 
+can display the data differently depending on how close the user is viewing the map.
+
+For each "!ScaleRange" you can define a number of rules. This can be used to visually
+show difference in the non-spatial values, eg. land value, or a broken pipe, etc.
+The default rule in !MapGuide is a blank rule, which will match all data.
+
+If you use rules to display eg. land values with a gradient color, ranging from low
+land value to high land value, it is called "Theming".
+
+An object in the map can also have a "Label", which is displayed on top of the item.
+This can be used to display road names.
+
+You can also set a "Tooltip" on an object, which will be displayed when the cursor hovers 
+over the object.
+
+Finally you can set a "Link" on an object, which will open when the user double clicks on the
+feature (CTRL+click in some places).
+
+=== Combining data ===
+Once you have set up the visual apperance of your layers, you can combine them together in a map.
+In the map, the layers have a "Drawing Order", which is used to order how the layers are drawn.
+If you have a county and a subway layer, you might not be able to see the subways if they are below
+the large county layer. Usually polygons are at the bottom, then lines, then points, and finally 
+labels on top.
+
+In !MapGuide, such a collection of layers is called a "!MapDefinition". In a "!MapDefinition",
+you can also group layers, so the users can easily toggle the visibilty of a number of layers 
+with a single click.
+
+In a "!MapDefinition" you can also define what layers should be visible in the legend, 
+and what names should be displayed in the legend.
+
+=== Presenting data to the user ===
+Now that you have a "!MapDefinition", you can set up a frame the user can view the data in.
+This frame defines what tools the user has (Zoom tool, select tool, measure tool, etc.), as
+well as what items are visible (legend, overview map, etc.).
+
+There are currently two types of frames you can use, one called "!WebLayout" and one called "Fusion Application".
+Autodesk has named the "Fusion Application" "Flexible Layout", so you may see that term as well.
+
+You can read more about choosing between the two, in the chapter named [wiki:maestro/UserGuides/LayoutOrFusion Picking a programming interface].
+
+----
+Next stop is the tour for the !MapGuide Maestro userinterface
+'''[wiki:maestro/UserGuides/MaestroBasics Navigating in Maestro]'''.