Map configurations are made up of maps and settings. Maps, in turn, are made up of layers.
What is a Table?
The term 'table' refers to a Spectrum Spatial dataset which contains geographic information
and attribute data. For Analyst; the data for each table resides in MapInfo TAB
files or a database such as Oracle, SQL Server or PostGIS. Tables have to be
accessible by Spectrum Spatial Server. A Named Table is an XML resource in the
Spectrum Spatial repository that contains the path or connection to a table allowing
Spatial Server to find and open the table.
What is a Layer?
The term 'layer' references a table and adds visual
display information about the layer such as what style to display layer in, at what zoom
levels it is showm whether labels are displayed etc. One or more layers can be grouped
together to form maps. Analyst uses these layers in the background for rendering Maps
but don’t expose these to the Administrators. A Named Layer is an XML resource in the
Spectrum Spatial repository that contains the display settings.
What is a Map?
The term ‘map’ refers to a collection of layers. It is
similar to a Map Workspace that can be displayed in MapInfo Professional. A Named Map is
an XML resource in the Spectrum Spatial repository that contains the definition of the
map (they either have a reference to multiple Named Layers or sometimes can include the
Named Layer definition inline).
As soon as you have created a map using the Spectrum Map Uploader; the definition
for the map and the tables it uses added to the Spectrum Spatial repository as Named
Maps, Named Layers and Named Tables, and they then become available to Analyst. As an
Analyst Admin, you can choose to add a map to a map configuration or add a Table to a
Find My Nearest configuration or Query Configuration.
What is a Map Configuration?
A map configuration defines what maps are to
be displayed, and what settings will be used to display them in Analyst. The default map
configuration specifies the settings for the map that will be used when Analyst starts
up. Every new map configuration is populated with settings derived from the default map
configuration.