Data accessconnection method

Inline MapServer Features

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Inline features refer to coordinates entered directly into the map file. They aren't a file or database format and don't require any DATA or CONNECTION parameters. Instead they use a FEATURE section to define the coordinates.

Inline features can be used to define points, lines, and polygons as if taken from an external file; this requires direct entry of coordinate pairs in the map file using a particular syntax.

Data access/connection method

This is a native MapServer option that doesn't use any external libraries to support it.

Map file example

Each FEATURE..END section defines a feature.

Points

Multiple points can be defined in a FEATURE section. If multiple points are defined in the same layer, they have the same CLASS settings; for example, for colors and styles.

Coordinates are entered in the units set in the layer's projection. In this case, it assumes the map file projection is using decimal degrees.

     LAYER       NAME inline_stops       TYPE POINT       STATUS DEFAULT       FEATURE         POINTS           72.36 33.82         END         TEXT "My House"       END       FEATURE         POINTS           69.43 35.15           71.21 37.95           72.02 38.60         END         TEXT "My Stores"       END       CLASS         COLOR 0 0 250         SYMBOL 'circle'         SIZE 6       END     END 

Lines

Lines are simply a list of points strung together, but the layer must be TYPE LINE instead of TYPE POINT.

     LAYER       NAME inline_track       TYPE LINE       STATUS DEFAULT       MAXSCALE 10000000       FEATURE         POINTS           72.36 33.82           70.85 34.32           69.43 35.15           70.82 36.08           70.90 37.05           71.21 37.95         END       END       CLASS         COLOR 255 10 0         SYMBOL 'circle'         SIZE 2       END     END 

Polygons

Polygons are the same as the line example, just a list of points.

They require the TYPE POLYGON parameter, and the final coordinate pair needs to be the same as the first, making it a closed polygon.