Flashmapping.org

Project Abstract

Flashmapping.org is a collection of open source tools for Adobe Flash that supports the development of professional mapping applications. Several projects are on-going and can be seen here.  (refer to the schedule). 

Interactive maps on the web are in big demand these days. End of 2005 a big boom of GIS started since Google and Yahoo producing public map services and viewers. This boom creates already a higher demand from end users. Server based scripting for mapping services (such as .NET,.ASP) are not user friendly enough because of the constant page loads and the need to wait for the server after one user action. Every interaction with a map demands a request towards the server. These days there are several good solutions to achieve that. Solutions such as AJAX, JAVA clients and Flash macromedia are the most common options these days. They run on the client what makes the user experience much better.

What's  New

• WMSSelectLayer-component. Makes it very easy to add one or more selections to a WMS service and forward the result to a grid or textfield. (Version 5.3.5)
• Update of map tool box 1.1.4
• Get a new framework in place to make development more open.
• Setup of a new website.
• WMS is fully supported on versions 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.1.1, 1.3.0. Including support of Identify. We serialize automatically the "application/vnd.ogc.gml"-format. Events will trigger for all formats. The WMS client has been tested on 243 different WMS servers out in the world. Enjoy!! (MapComponent version 5.3.1)
• We introduced a cool new tool called Trax. A much better way to manage developments. Have a look here!

Why using Flash

• The files are small
• Designers and developers can work easily on the same project.
• Flash has been for years the tool of designers.
• It's easier then learning .NET or JAVA.
• You can build components and classes in flash.
• Flash is the number one in add-on for browsers. 
• It's platform independent. Linux, Windows, Unix, Macintosh.
• All major internet browsers can integrate the flash plug in.
• Backwards compatible to older browsers
• Flash has no difference on different platform levels.
• Integrating animation is easy. 
• Flash supports vector information.
• Asynchronous data request and simultaneous data requests towards one or many servers.

Key Milestones

• April 2007 - A new website is born
• February 2007 - WMS is fully supported
• more ...