[Geoserver-devel] [jira] Created: (GEOS-341) Virtual WMS layers

Virtual WMS layers
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         Key: GEOS-341
         URL: http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-341
     Project: GeoServer
        Type: New Feature
  Components: WMS
    Versions: 1.3.0-beta3
Environment: all
    Reporter: dblasby
Assigned to: Gabriel Roldán
     Fix For: 1.4

Currently, the layers in the WMS are 1:1 with the FeatureTypes (and that FeatureType's default style).

It would be great if you could create an (unqueryable) layer based on an SLD. This would be an SLD with a set of NamedStyles in it.

For a more concrete example, I have a nice TIGER map. Its composed of a few 'base' layers (ie. roads, parks, and lakes) which I have a set of Styles for. I'd like to have Geoserver serve this up as an easy-to-grab single layer.

Basically:
1. The user creates an SLD based on a set of NamedStyles (or, if you want to be even more tricky any SLD)
2. The user also provides a name for this layer
3. Geoserver WMS then advertises this layer, with these restrictions:
    a) its unqueriable (or you can have it try to query all the sublayers)
    b) you cannot re-style the layer. If you try to restyle the layer, it doesnt actually change the appearance. (it possible to remove this restriction, but I think it would be pretty complex for everyone involved. Basically, you'd have to make a big feature collection of ALL the sub-layer FeatureTypes. Yuck!)

In the end you're converting a request like this:

layers=layer1,layer2,layer3,layer4&styles=style1,style2,style3,style4

into:

layers=my_virtual_layer

For my concrete TIGER example, lets say someone one to put a fireHydrant layer on the TIGER set. Currently, they have to do this:

layers=giant_polygon,poly_landmarks,finalRoads,point_landmarks,fireHydrant
styles=....

With the virtual layer they could just request:

layers=tiger_basemap,fireHydrant
styles=default,myFireHydrantStyle

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