JMap Server allows you to share layers between projects that are on the same server or that originate from remote servers that are connected. Layer sharing allows you to manage data more effectively (avoids duplication, saves time) by reusing existing layers instead of creating new layers in each project. When the original layers are modified, the changes can automatically be viewed in all projects that have referenced layers pointing towards these shared layers. Referenced layers cannot be modified directly, save a few basic settings. Only the original shared layer can be modified.
From the Kathmandu version, JMap Server can share layers with the cloud-based geospatial platform JMap Cloud developed by K2 Geospatial. So JMap Server layers with their configuration can be consumed by JMap Cloud users. The sharing is done only in the direction of JMap Server towards JMap Cloud.
The figure presents the layer sharing between projects on the same server and on different servers. The properties of the Rivers layer cannot be modified in projects 1 and 3. The original layer is in project 2.
To share layers between projects on the same JMap Server, no action is required. Layers can be accessed freely from any project on the same server. Refer to Accessing shared layers for more information.
If you wish to share a project’s layers in order to access them from another JMap Server, you must assign a special remote access permission to a user for these layers. In order to do this, access the project layers section for which you wish to share these layers.
Select one or more layers.
Click on Permissions.
Select the Remote access permission. The account used must match the user account through which the connection to this JMap Server was established. If you are using a group, the aforementioned user account must be included within it.
Once the layers have been shared, they can be selected from the remote JMap Server and inserted in this server’s projects. Refer to Accessing shared layers for more information.
To stop layers from being shared, simply remove the Remote access permission from these layers.
To access existing layers from different projects located on the same JMap Server or shared layers on other JMap Servers, you must click on Add and select Clone / Reference in the layers section of the project to which you would like to add these layers.
In the Clone / Reference layers section:
Select a JMap Server from which you wish to clone or reference layers. If you choose Local server, you can select the projects and layers of the local server without these being shared. The other servers in the list are the JMap Servers for which a JMap Server to JMap Server connection exists. Refer to the JMap Server to JMap Server Connections section for more information on creating JMap Server to JMap Server connections.
Select the project from which you wish to clone or reference layers. Once the project has been selected, the list of available layers displays.
Select the layers you wish to clone or reference and move them to the list on the right.
Select the Clone or Reference option.
If you choose the Clone option, the selected layers will be duplicated towards your project. They will be exact copies of the original layers, but there will be no connection between the copies and the original layers. You can modify the copies without affecting the originals. If you delete a cloned layer, this doesn’t affect the original layer. If you delete the original layer, this doesn’t affect its cloned layers. However, duplicated layers always use the same spatial data source as the original layer. If this data source is modified or deleted, this will affect the duplicated layers.
If you select the Reference option, the original layers will be accessed by reference. This means that a direct connection will be maintained between the layers of your project and the original layers. You will not be able to modify these layers in your project. If the original layers are modified, the changes will appear wherever references to these layers exist, after a short delay. If you delete a referenced layer, the original layer will not be affected. If you delete the original layer, the referenced layers will no longer work and will have to be deleted manually.
You can share a vector layer with the JMap Cloud the geospatial platform developed by K2 Geospatial, by copying or synchronizing it with JMap Cloud.
You must first connect to JMap Cloud. Section JMap Server Settings provides details on this topic. If this step is not completed, a message in the JMap Cloud section of the layer configuration interface indicates it.
To synchronize a layer with JMap Cloud, in the JMap Cloud section of the layer configuration interface:
Project: Select the project on JMap Cloud in which the layer will be created.
Copy: This function creates a copy of the layer (configuration and data) and its spatial data source in JMap Cloud. No JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If the layer is updated on JMap Server, the data is not synchronized with JMap Cloud.
Copy and synchronize automatically: This function creates a copy of the layer (configuration and data) and its spatial data source in JMap Cloud. A JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If the layer is updated on JMap Server, the data is automatically synchronized with JMap Cloud.
Select an option and press OK.
When the layer is synchronized with JMap Cloud, the JMap Cloud section presents the following information:
Id: The JMap Cloud layer ID.
Project: The name of the project in JMap Cloud.
Status: The current layer status. While synching, this show the current sync task. Otherwise, it show the JMap Cloud layer status.
Last Updated: Indicates the last time the layer was synched.
Automatic synchronization: If ON and an update occurs on JMap Server, the data is automatically synchronized with JMap Cloud.
You can share or synchronize several vector layers in batch with JMap Cloud. In the Layers section of the project, in the List tab:
Select the layers you want to synchronize with JMap Cloud. Currently, only vector layers can be shared with JMap Cloud.
Press the Sync with JMap Cloud button. If all the layers are already synchronized with JMap Cloud, they are directly updated in JMap Cloud. If at least one of the layers is not shared or synchronized with JMap Cloud, a window opens offering you several options:
Project: Select the project on JMap Cloud in which the layers are created.
Copy: This function creates a copy of the layers (configuration and data) and their spatial data sources in JMap Cloud. No JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If there is an update on JMap Server, the data is not synchronized with JMap Cloud.
Copy and synchronize automatically: This function creates a copy of the layers (configuration and data) and their spatial data sources in JMap Cloud. A JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If there is an update on JMap Server, the data is automatically synchronized with JMap Cloud.
Layers already synchronized are updated in JMap Cloud.
In the permission management interface, select the user account or group to which you wish to assign the remote access permission (you can add user accounts and groups by clicking on ).
Press Synchronize with JMap Cloud. A window opens and offers you several options:
Copy and synchronize manually: This function creates a copy of the layer (configuration and data) and its spatial data source in JMap Cloud. A JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If the layer is updated on JMap Server, the data is not automatically synchronized with JMap Cloud. You can launch a manual sync by pressing .
Once the layer is synchronized with JMap Cloud, the icon appears in the list of project layers, in the JMap Cloud column.
Press to remove the JMap Server → JMap Cloud link for the layer. It is no longer possible to synchronize the layer, manually or automatically. The layer on JMap Cloud is not deleted.
Copy and synchronize manually: This function creates a copy of the layers (configuration and data) and their spatial data sources in JMap Cloud. A JMap Server → JMap Cloud link is created. If there is an update on JMap Server, the data is not automatically synchronized with JMap Cloud. You can launch a manual synchronization by pressing in the configuration interface of layers and spatial data sources that have been modified.
Select an option. When the synchronization is finished, the layers display the icon in the JMap Cloud column of the project layers list.
