Inline

Inline features refer to coordinates entered directly into the map file. They are not a file or database format and do not 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

Points

• Each FEATURE..END section defines a feature.
• Multiple points can be defined in a FEATURE section. If multiple points are defined in the same layer, they will have the same CLASS settings, e.g. for colours and styles.
• Coordinates are entered in the units set in the layer’s projection. In this case it is assuming 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
    STYLE
      COLOR 0 0 250
      SYMBOL 'circle'
      SIZE 6
    END
  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
    STYLE
      COLOR 255 10 0
      SYMBOL 'circle'
      SIZE 2
    END
  END
END

Polygons

Polygons are the same as the line example, just a list of points. They require the TYPE POLYGON parameter. Polygons also require the final coordinate pair to be the same as the first, making it a closed polygon.