6.4. WMS Server Base Maps

Along with OpenStreetMap and local Raster data, CartoMobile also supports the OGC standard WMS (Web Map Service) protocol for base maps. This can be useful if your organization has a WMS server or if data you are working with is available in this form from a public server. The process for working with WMS Servers is similar to that of the OpenStreetMap servers, but has some additional complexity due to the variety of data available from most servers.

Adding a WMS Server Base Map

  1. Choose Change Map from the gear menu to bring up the Change Map window

  2. Tap the Edit button

    For all Local Maps, you will now see the blue chevron button (it looks like a greater-than symbol) on the right, providing the edit function for that map

  3. Locate the Map you want to edit and tap the blue chevron.

    The Map Editor will slide into view

  4. Choose Add Custom WMS Server in the Base Maps area of the Map Editor

    A new WMS Server editor will slide in

  5. Type a name in the Base Map Name to identify it in the Base Map section of the gear menu

  6. Put the URL for the WMS Server into the WMS Server URL field. This should contain all of the URL necessary for the specification of the service, without the service, request, version, size, or similar parameters.

    [Note]

    It is often the case that WMS URLs are listed containing the Request=GetCapabilities and or service=WMS parameters. These will cause problems with CartoMobile. As an example, if you find a WMS URL that looks like this: http://demo.cubewerx.com/demo/cubeserv/cubeserv.cgi?CONFIG=main&SERVICE=WMS&?VERSION=1.1.1&REQUEST=GetCapabilities, which represents the base url, plus a number of parameters, you need to enter just the http://demo.cubewerx.com/demo/cubeserv/cubeserv.cgi?CONFIG=main portion, leaving off Service, Version, and Request, which CartoMobile will add by itself.

  7. For each layer from the WMS server that you want to include in the map, you will need to add the layer to the list. A single layer is required at minimum and you will often need to consult with the server documentation to get the layer names. If you want to combine more than one layer on the server, enter each layer as a separate line item in the list. Similarly, to remove a layer, use the - button to the left of the entry.

  8. Tap Done to add the Base Map to the list

    The OSM Server Editor will slide out, showing the Map Editor

  9. Tap Done to commit your changes to the Map

    The Map Editor will slide out, showing the Map list in edit mode

  10. Tap Return to return to the Map you were previously viewing, or Done to return to the Map list in map selection mode (you can always choose the same map you were using before by tapping it again from this list.