Reviews : Corda OptiMap 5.0 :

Review: Corda OptiMap 5.0

Summary:

Corda OptiMap (Corda.com) is a Web-oriented dynamic mapping tool that enables Web developers to show real-time database information in a geographical format. OptiMap consists of two primary components: OptiMap Server which serves the dynamic maps, and OptiMap Builder for designing and Web-enabling maps. OptiMap server can return maps in a number of different formats including PDF, JPEG and Macromedia Flash, and can be called either from a simple HTML page or directly through application server templates, such as JSP pages, servlets, ASP .NET pages and ColdFusion pages.

Imagine what a tool like this could bring to your Web applications. You could display regional sales reports and global weather information. Displaying statistical or demographic data by state or election information could be done dynamically. Geographical information display is a powerful way to view and understand many different types of data for marketing, planning and a number of other purposes. Because of the wide-spread and powerful implications of such a technology, an entire field, called Geographical Information Systems, or GIS, has emerged. However, from a Web developer's standpoint, most of the GIS software currently available is high-powered, high cost and is designed to deliver industry-specific, print- resolution maps to engineers, urban planners and other specialists. Enter OptiMap.

OptiMap Intro

As a developer working with OptiMap, you will need to provide the server with all of the information it will need to draw your map. There are basically four different pieces involved in this process:

• An XML-based map outline. This outline specifies the outline of the map to draw. You can either create your own map outlines or select from a number of included templates, such as the U.S., Africa and so on.
• A datasource. This is the database that contains the data you wish to use to populate the map with. You can also enter the data manually in the OptiMap Builder, but more on that later.
• An XML-based appearance file. This file will contain information about how to display the map in much the same way as a stylesheet defines an HTML page.
• A number of formatting variables. These are passed to the server when called on by an application server or HTML page and will specify the format (Flash, JPEG, etc.), size and other similar items.

With all these elements in place, the OptiMap server will generate and deliver a map based on all of the information passed to it. The OptiMap Builder gives you a visual interface to create the files to describe the map outline and appearance.

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