[Chameleon] querying multiple shapefiles

[Normand Savard]

Matt Salen wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>Having a bit of a problem and hoping someone could help me out
>
>I'll give a bit of an explanation as to what I'm doing first so things make
>more sense.  I am trying to create a map that can be used as a custom search
>tool for my companies web site.  
>
>First what I was wondering is if there is a way for mapserver to
>automatically color different shapefiles based on say 5 or 6 different color
>values instead of having to do it manually (as I have about 21 main
>shapefiles then anywhere from 10-20 shapefiles within those it will take me
>a long time to code each one and make it look good).but the coloring would
>have to be based on cartography rules (no two colors should share a border).
>
>  
>
MapServer doesn't support that.

>The second thing I need to do (and this is the more important) is to have
>the user be able to select multiple shapefiles from those visible on the
>screen (when the user zooms in the shapefiles within the larger ones become
>visible but not until smallest extent is reached) and then be able to click
>a "search" button and have the webserver send a message to our database to
>return a result.
>
>Lastly what I am hoping to eventually be able to do is create a network
>analysis type of application where a user can select one city from a pull
>down list and then a second city and then click a calculate button to give a
>result as to the distance between each (its for trucking so we can figure
>out freight costs).
>
>For the multiple shapefile search I have gotten an answer already just not
>sure how to properly impletment it in chameleon.  This site:
>http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/mapserv48?map=/usr/local/www/docs_maps/e
>co/rsg/search/search_example.map
><http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/mapserv48?map=/usr/local/www/docs_maps/
>eco/rsg/search/search_example.map&qlayer=county&mode=nquery&searchmap=true>
>&qlayer=county&mode=nquery&searchmap=true
>
>Has an example of a multiple search and been told I need to use a query
>header, footer, and template file just not sure how to properly build these
>and get them to work with my map.  If anyone could help it would be
>appreciated
>
>  
>
The other following features may be feasible but I'm not the right 
person to answer.


Norm