A web map service (WMS) is a protocol for delivering online georeferenced map images using data from a geographic information system (GIS) database. You can define a WMS layer in Synovia using a URL and add the layer over any of the map screens.

Note: Previously, you could define a WMS layer using a shapefile as well. (A shapefile is a format for storing the geometric location and attribute data of geographic features.) We no longer support this feature, as it wasn't compatible with our implementation of ALK Maps. Instead, if you have a shapefile you'd like to add (such as one with county boundaries), send it to your customer success manager (CSM), who in turn will submit it to Trimble ALK Maps.

This article describes the various features of the WMS Layers screen, which you access by clicking  >> WMS Layers.

Note: For information about the banner at the top and accordion menu on the left, see Navigating the Synovia Site.

These are the options along the top right of the screen:


  • : Begins the process of adding a new WMS layer. (See Adding a WMS Layer Using a URL for details.)
     
  • : Refreshes the data on the screen (which can be especially useful if other users are making changes).
     
  • : Deletes the selected WMS layer. (See Deleting a WMS Layer for details.)
     
  • : Saves the grid data as a PDF you can print.
     
  • : Exports the grid data to an Excel spreadsheet.


Here is an explanation of the grid icon and column headers:

 

  • : Opens the Edit WMS Layer screen, on which you can change the name, description, and other properties of the layer. (See Editing a URL WMS Layer for details.)
     
  • Name: The name of the WMS layer, as specified by the user who added it.
     
  • Description: An explanation of what the WMS layer shows.
     
  • Type: Specifies that the layer is built based on a URL.
    Note: This is a leftover for when we had two types of WMS layers — shapefile and URL — which was supported by our previous map provider. (With our current maps, you can't add a shapefile layer yourself, but instead need to make a request to Trimble, as discussed above.)
  • Opacity: The percentage of how opaque the layer will appear on a map screen.
     
  • Last Modified By: The user who last made a change to the WMS layer.
     
  • Last Modified Date: The date and time of that last change.


Along the bottom of the screen are icons that enable you to navigate through the pages of data, if needed. See Paging Options for an explanation of these.