1.8. How to create map styles for data visualization

Style is a special type of resource necessary to visualize geodata on Web map or with WMS service. When displaying a data layer on Web map or publishing it using WMS protocol, you actually use its style which describes how geodata is visually presented on a map.

The only exception are WMS layers which don’t need you to create Styles, because the information about their visualization is passed to Web GIS from the external WMS server.

For Vector and PostGIS layers Web GIS supports two types of Styles - MapServer style and QGIS style. For Raster layers Web GIS allows you to create a raster style.

1.8.1. MapServer style

  1. Open the Properties page of Vector layer or PostGIS layer for which you want to create a style;

  2. Select Create resource ‣ MapServer style on the right side of Web GIS admin console;

  3. In the opened dialog, go to Resource tab and type a name for the new style in the field Display name. You can edit style parameters in MapServer style tab (optional). Examples of MapServer style can be found here;

  4. Press Create button. If Style is created successfully, you’ll see its name in Child resources pane of the relevant Vector layer or PostGIS layer.

../../_images/Mapserver_style.gif

Pic. 1.20. Creating MapServer style

1.8.2. QGIS style

  1. Open the Properties page of Vector layer or PostGIS layer for which you want to create a style;

  2. Select Create resource ‣ QGIS style on the right side of Web GIS admin console;

  3. In the opened dialog, go to Resource tab and type a name for the new style in the field Display name;

  4. Go to QGIS style tab and upload a file in QML format created with QGIS;

  5. Press Create button. If Style is created successfully, you’ll see its name in Child resources pane of the relevant Vector layer or PostGIS layer.

Note

For Vector layers uploaded to Web GIS with desktop app NextGIS QGIS a QGIS style is created automatically.

../../_images/QGIS_style.gif

Pic. 1.21. Creating QGIS style

1.8.3. Raster style

  1. Open the Properties page of Raster layer for which you want to create a style;

  2. Select Create resource ‣ Raster style on the right side of Web GIS admin console;

  3. In the opened dialog, go to Resource tab and type a name for the new style in the field Display name;

  4. Press Create button. If Style is created successfully, you’ll see its name in Child resources pane of the relevant Raster layer.

Note

For Raster layers uploaded to Web GIS with desktop app NextGIS QGIS a Raster style is created automatically.

../../_images/Raster_style.gif

Pic. 1.22. Creating Raster style

Read more on how to create and edit Styles here.