WMS Datasource

Web Map Service (WMS) is a standard that enables dynamic map images to be retrieved via the Internet. Such OGC-compliant external WMS services can be integrated into VC Publisher as a data source and thus into VC Map. Integrated WMS services can be used for texturing terrain layers in the VC Maps of a project.
The selected options are used to define the URI used to retrieve the selected WMS service.
The table shows an overview of the options:

Option Description

Name

Name of the Datasource.

Description

Description of the Datasource (optional).

Bounding Box

Describes the bounding box of the data.
Clicking the button "Edit Bounding Box" opens a new map window where a bounding box can be defined interactively. Clicking the button "Draw new extent on map" activates the bounding box mode, allowing the user to define a bounding box by clicking twice on the map (e.g., top-right and bottom-left corners of the bounding box). The coordinates of the bounding box are automatically adopted in EPSG 4326.
Clicking the button "CLOSE" closes the map window.

URI

URI of the datasource.

Additional info regarding URI

The base URI which the WMS data source is located on can be supplemented by options.
Alternatively, the selected parameters can be entered as an integrated part of the URL using the following syntax: https://example.com/wms?PARAMETER=1&PARAMETER=2. The base URI is at the beginning, followed by a question mark (?), after which the parameters are separated by ampersands (&).

Button “Open Capabilities Document”

Opens the Capabilities Document.

Button “Load Capabilities”

Checks available capabilities (e.g., layers, image formats).

Layers

Selection of the layer to be displayed. A selection is only possible after the WMS capabilities have been requested.

Parameters

Manual entry of optional parameters, e.g., if a specific style is to be selected (&STYLES=toll). More detailed information on WMS service parameters can be found in the OGC WMS specification.

Transparent

Enable/disable support for transparent image areas. The selected image format must support transparency.

Max. Level

Maximum zoom level at which the WMS layer is displayed.

Image Format

Selection of output image format. A selection can only be made after the WMS capabilities have been requested.

Tiling Schema

Determines the tiling profile/scheme of the map.
Profiles increase the interoperability of tile maps with other tile maps. Currently, the ‘geographic’ and ‘mercator’ profiles are supported: The ‘geographic’ profile uses EPSG:4326 as the CRS, while ‘mercator’ uses EPSG:3857 as the CRS.
Further information on WMS profiles can be found in the OGC WMS Specification.

Version

Selection of the version of the WMS service. Currently, versions 1.1.1 and 1.3.0 are supported.

Feature Info

If this option is enabled, a WMS Feature Info request is sent when the user clicks on the WMS layer in the map. This is only possible if the WMS service supports the Feature Info operation for the layer.
The Balloon Info widget must be enabled for the Feature Info result to be displayed.

Feature Info Response Type

Definition of the format in which the WMS delivers the GetFeatureInfo. Input field is only displayed if Feature Info has been activated.

Once all settings have been made, the data source must be saved. It can then be viewed as a 2D map or as an overlay on a terrain layer in the preview (click the ‘Activate Map’ button).

Data Preview

The data preview allows a visual check of the configured data source before publication. It displays the data in the map window using the selected projection and within the defined extent. Users can interactively pan and zoom the map to review the display.
Changes to the data source or the extent are applied to the preview after clicking “Reload Map.”