How to set up a querystring for a MapServer layer?

Question

I am trying to query a MapServer layer via URL, but I am having trouble finding syntax examples. I want to use the indexquery mode and found this documentation http://gislars.github.io/mapserver_docs/cgi/controls.html as well as this http://mapserver.org/tutorial/example1-1.html. I am successful in returning the layer in map mode, but am not sure how to structure the indexquery string.

UPDATE: Upon further investigation it seems I need to use itemnquery mode. I have found some syntax that seems like it should work in this thread https://github.com/mapserver/mapserver/issues/4711, but I don't have access to the column names, and am not sure how to get them. Ultimately I'd like to query all records. Is there a general query for selecting all records, or is there a way to query a layer to return field names?

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34

1

Per your updated question, to request a schema of the feature attributes you may use desribeFeatureType method.

http://www.ogcnetwork.net/node/179

Here is a similar Q/A:

How to get column names of layer (WMS) using OpenLayers?

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34

Community

1

answered Jul 10 '16 at 17:40

artwork21

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Thanks for the reply. I don't even know if WFS is enabled, this is the url for the layer: http://qpublic5.qpublic.net/cgi-bin/mapserv56?map=/qpub1/maps/ky/mason/parcel3.map&mode=map&layer=parcels – kflaw Jul 10 '16 at 18:23

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 11 '16 at 07:52

1

The WFS service in the link you provided is not enabled but WMS is enabled, to enable the WFS add below line into your web section in map file: "wfs_enable_request" "*" so it should appear as follow:

WEB 
    IMAGEPATH "/ms4w/tmp/ms_tmp/" 
    IMAGEURL "/ms_tmp/"
    METADATA
           "wms_enable_request" "*"
            "wfs_enable_request" "*"
    END
  END

Now to get the columns for layer parcels, use below link:

http://qpublic5.qpublic.net/cgi-bin/mapserv56?map=/qpub1/maps/ky/mason/parcel3.map&SERVICE=WFS&request=DescribeFeatureType&typeNames=parcels

for detailed information about other WFS, check below link: http://docs.geoserver.org/latest/en/user/services/wfs/reference.html#describefeaturetype

answered Jul 11 '16 at 07:52

Shiko

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Thanks for the reply. I don't believe I have access to or can make changes to the map file. But you say WMS is enabled? How would I structure the url to view the WMS and is it possible to query all features from the WMS? – kflaw Jul 11 '16 at 10:43
Your WMS is enabled as I can get the capabilities & can see the layers as below link: http://qpublic5.qpublic.net/cgi-bin/mapserv56?map=/qpub1/maps/ky/mason/parcel3.map&SERVICE=WMS&request=GetCapabilities – Shiko Jul 11 '16 at 10:44
It does appear that another layer, qparcels, is queryable, but it only seems to return a feature number, when i load the WMS into a desktop GIS – kflaw Jul 11 '16 at 15:06
You can query feature using WMS based on coordinates (x & y) to get the map image but if you need to query an attribute and return data, then you need to enable WFS. check this link to get clear image regarding the WMS & WFS. – Shiko Jul 12 '16 at 07:55
I think I generally understand but got a little confused because I'm used to working with esri map services which can allow querying of features. And as I mentioned, it does look like one of the layers in this WMS, qparcels, allows queries. – kflaw Jul 12 '16 at 15:16

How to set up a querystring for a MapServer layer?

2 Answers2