Importing WMS

Import raster data with the Web Map Service (WMS) using the Advanced Import dialog box. In the Advanced Import dialog box, choose the Web Map Service format and click Browse. It accesses web servers that deliver raster content in a variety of formats. There are no format-specific settings associated with this importer. To access WMS, choose Web Map Service in the Format drop-down list in the Import or Multiple Data Import dialog box.

The Browse Web Map Service dialog box maintains a list of loaded map services; loaded maps are from Avenza, added individually, or add from a list. This list can be populated with sample services aggregated by Avenza. To do so, click the Load Services From Avenza button. Loaded services from Avenza can't be edited or deleted. This list can also be populated with services in a file. To do so, click the Load Services From File button. To add a new service click the Add button, then add the service URL and version number. Geographic Imager WMS importer only supports WMS version 1.1.1. Added services are saved into WMS_ServicesFile.xml located in the Geographic Imager plug-in folder.

To add a map, select a service and click OK. In the Select Web Map Layer dialog box, choose from an available list of layers from the Layers tree to import. The layer description provides information about the selected layer. A preview of the layer shows its bounding box coordinates. In the Output Options, specify an output image format from the Format drop-down. Click the Select Area button to specify four exact coordinates to limit the area being imported. Optionally, check the Set Output Folder For Image option and browse to a location to save it locally (not required to use the feature).

 Images are cropped to the extents of a coordinate system envelope if the selected coordinate system is not appropriate for the area that is selected or if the bounding rectangle is not specified by the server.

Select Area

Drawing a marquee box in the map preview is the quickest and simplest method to select an area. In the preview image, click and drag to draw to select an area—the image immediately crops to the select area. The crop area can be only as large as the extent of the image and only one crop area can be defined at a time. Click Undo to undo the previous selection. Click Reset to Original Extents to return to the original extents of the layer specified by the service.

Select Area By Extents

To select an area by extent, click the Select Area By Extents button. Begin by setting the coordinate system (geodetic or projected) and if necessary, the coordinate format (only for geodetic coordinate systems). Settings and units in this dialog box change depending on whether a geodetic or projected coordinate system is used.

When the coordinate system is geodetic (e.g. WGS 84), specify the Latitude and Longitude values in the Minimum and Maximum boxes to define a precise selection area. Several formats are available in the Format drop-down, including Decimal Degrees, Delimited Degrees Minutes Seconds, Degrees.Minutes, Degrees.MinutesSeconds, Packed DMS with decimal point, and Packed DMS. The preview image updates and draws the selection area using the coordinates specified.

To use a specified coordinate system, select Specified Coordinate System from the Use drop-down and click the coordinate system link to browse for one. When using a projected coordinate system (e.g. Winkel-Tripel), specify the X and Y values in the Minimum and Maximum boxes to define a precise selection area. The units indicated will be the same as the specified coordinate system (e.g. meters). The preview image updates and draws the selection area using the coordinates specified.

Select Area By Position

To select an area by position, click the Select Area By Position button. Use this feature to select an area of the image based on the dimension from a specific base point. Begin by setting the coordinate system (geodetic or projected) and if necessary, the coordinate format (only for geodetic coordinate systems). Settings and units in this dialog box change depending on whether a geodetic or projected coordinate system is used.

In the Point drop-down, choose a position for the base point. Under Base Point, specify the Latitude and Longitude values (or X and Y if using a projected coordinate system) of the point on which the select area will be based on. This position defines where the select area is created relative to the base point. The diagram below explains base point positioning.

Under Dimensions, specify Width and Height values (in the same units as the base point) of which the select area dimensions will be drawn. If needed, click the Constrain dimensions check box to keep both dimension values the same (create a square select area). If a specified coordinate system is projected, it is possible to change the dimension units. Click the Change Units button and choose a new measurement unit. The preview image updates and draws the selection area using the base point and dimensions specified.

Select Area By MAP View

Select the WMS image area using the extents of a MAP View in the document. Click the Select Area By MAP View button and choose a MAP View from the drop-down.

Select Area By File Vector Extents

Use this feature to select an area based on the geographic extents of a vector file. Click the Select By Vector File Extents button to select a vector dataset. Choose from a variety of vector formats including shapefiles, KML/KMZ, GPX, and DWG. Note that this does not select an area to the boundary defined by the vector, only a rectangular shape defined by its geographic extents.

 Esri formats such as geodatabases (GDB, MDB, MXD) and text formats (TXT, CSV, XLS) are not supported.

Select Area By Coordinate System Envelope

Select the WMS image area using the envelope of a coordinate system to define the selection area of the current WMS image. Click the Select Area By Coordinate System Envelope button to choose a coordinate system. The preview image updates and draws the selected area using the extents of the coordinate system envelope specified. It is important to use a coordinate system envelope that falls within the extents of the current WMS image. If only a portion of the envelope falls within the extents, it will still be selected. If a coordinate system envelope is outside of the image’s extents, it will fail to select and a warning will appear.

Preferences

These preferences affect format and precision when selecting WMS images.

Related topics

Opening Images with Advanced Import

GeoCropping Images