Autodesk 15606-011408-9330 User Guide - Page 43

4 Decide on your data strategy and work with your data. You will need to determine whether to use a data provider to access data directly or whether to convert your data. This includes creating spatial data, attribute data, raster images, symbols, Zoom Goto categories, and reports, and then adding this data to your map. It also includes optimizing the data you create and ensuring that you're using the correct coordinate system and precision. 5 Create your maps using Autodesk MapGuide Author or Dynamic Authoring Toolkit, and post them on the server. 6 Add the maps to Web pages and develop client-side applications to interact with the maps. 7 Develop report scripts that either display data for selected features on the map or dynamically update the databases when the user clicks the map or enters information. 8 Optionally, use SDF Component Toolkit to develop applications that allow you to modify your Spatial Data Files (SDF) by editing, deleting, or adding geographic features from the browser. Overall Strategy Setting up Autodesk MapGuide and developing an application is much like cooking: rather than working on one task at a time, you need to work on several of them at once, going back and forth between the tasks as needed. This section uses this approach and outlines the best strategy for setting up Autodesk MapGuide and developing applications. The process includes three main phases: installation and testing, planning and design, and implementation. The following sections describe these phases. For more information about the second phase, planning and design, see Chapter 3, "Designing Your System." Phase One: Installation and Testing This phase involves installing and testing all of the components to make sure that your system is ready. You can take two approaches to this phase. The first approach is to read through Chapter 3, "Designing Your System," to determine exactly how you want to set up your system before you install the products. Overall Strategy | 43