[wms-dev] GetFeatureInfo queries using bounding box

[GeoPraxis Inc]

Andrew Hallam wrote:

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 19:22:09 -0500, "GeoPraxis Inc"
>> We have had a similar frustration in some projects.  However, if we
>> want to crack open that "box" (as it were :-) ), IMO it would be
>> better to go all the way and support queries based on the whole
>> list of GML geometry classes.
>
>Isn't there a threshold of complexity here that, once crossed, would
>suggest the use of a WFS? For instance, Points and BoundingBoxes are
>easy to encode in HTTP GET URI. A box maps well to the relatively simple
>action of dragging a rectangle on the user interface.

True, but then so does a circle (click on centre and drag to the radius),
and so does a single line segment, both of which also could be encoded in a
request as a pair of points.  A point I was trying to make is that if we
start to talk about adding functionality to GetFeatureInfo in an ad hoc
manner, some favoured users will get their desired functionality supported
and some will be left having to use a WFS.  If we are proposing a partway
modification of the WMS spec, let's just leave it alone and say that anybody
who wants more than it can offer should use WFS.  That way, we don't end up
having servers supporting old versions of the spec not being forward
compatible with servers supporting new versions, which introduces the same
kind of complications when a cascading server is involved.

_____________________________________________________________
Stephen Kilburn
GeoPraxis Inc.