Adding or Removing Layers

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Adding and Removing Layers


When configuring the map you may need to add new layers or remove existing layers in the layers collection. The easiest way to add new layers is to select the corresponding files by using the Add Vector Layer From File and Add Raster Layer From File in the layer panel. The new layer is added at the top of the the currently selected layer. The layer order can also be modified according to the Changing the Layer Order section.


Adding a vector layer from file

You can use the drop down combo button in the layer panel and select the Add Vector Layer From File option. MapManager displays a common file open dialogue to select the desired vector files to open. By selecting multiple files the corresponding layers will automatically be added to the map configuration. The selected vector layer file(s) will automatically be configured as connection type: MS_OGR, MapManager will automatically retrieve and configure the projection and the initial extent of the file. If the file is the first file in the layer collection MapManager will set up the default projection and the initial extent of the map according to the projection and the initial extent of the first layer.


Adding a raster layer from file

You can use the drop down combo button in the layer panel and select the Add Raster Layer From File option. MapManager displays a common file open dialogue to select the desired raster files to open. By selecting multiple files the corresponding number of layers will automatically be added to the map configuration. The selected raster layer file(s) will automatically be configured as connection type: MS_RASTER, MapManager will automatically retrieve and configure the projection and the initial extent of the file. If the file is the first file in the layer collection MapManager will set up the default projection and the initial extent of the map according to the projection and the initial extent of the first layer.


Adding a new layer

You might have to add a new the layer from scratch by adding a new layer to the collection of the layers when the connection type is other than MS_OGR or MS_RASTER. To add a new layer use the File/New menu item of the main menu or the Add New Layer option of the toolbar displayed in the layer panel.
When adding a new layer  the layer connection type is set to MS_INLINE and  type of the layer is set MS_LAYER_POINT. The features of the point layer is rendered according to the default-marker specified in the symbolset file. For more information of the symbolset file see Working With Map Files.

To configure the newly added layer the following steps should be executed:


  1. Change the name of the layer - If a more "friendly" layer name is required, the name of the layer can be changed in the General tab of the Layer Property Editor
  2. Set up the Connection type and the layer type - You can select the connection type according to the data source in the Data tab of the Layer Property Editor. When the MS_PLUGIN connection type is selected the plugin dll should also be selected in the Plugin Library combo box
  3. Set up the connection and the layer data - The connection parameters and the data should be specified in the Data tab of the Layer Property Editor. By clicking on the button to the right the file based data sourced can be selected from the displayed file open dialogue box. For more information about the required settings depending on the connection type see Supported Vector Formats and Supported Raster Formats


Removing a layer

You can use the layer panel to remove a layer by selecting the layer and clicking on the Remove Layer button or by right clicking on the layer and selecting the Remove Layer option in the context menu or by simply pressing the Delete Button on the keyboard.