Cadcorp SIS Map Reader: Key Features and Best Practices

Cadcorp SIS Map Reader: A Beginner’s Guide to Navigation and Tools

What it is

Cadcorp SIS Map Reader is a lightweight viewer for Cadcorp SIS spatial data and web mapping services, designed for viewing, exploring, and printing maps without the full authoring tools of Cadcorp SIS Desktop.

Supported data and services

• Local files: common GIS formats (e.g., SHP, GML, GeoJSON) when configured for read-only access
• Web services: WMS, WFS, WMTS, and Cadcorp SIS-specific services
• Raster and vector layers: base maps, orthophotos, and feature layers

Interface overview

• Map window: central pane showing layers and map canvas
• Layer list / legend: toggle visibility, view symbology and scale-dependence
• Navigation toolbar: pan, zoom in/out, full-extent, previous/next extent
• Identify/Info tool: click features to view attribute data
• Measure tools: distance and area measurement with unit selection
• Scale and coordinates: display of current scale and cursor coordinates (often configurable)

Basic navigation steps

1. Open or connect: load a local dataset or connect to a web service (WMS/WFS).
2. Pan/Zoom: use mouse drag to pan; mouse wheel or zoom buttons to zoom.
3. Zoom to feature: use identify to locate a feature then zoom to extent.
4. Full extent: return to the full dataset extent with one button.
5. Previous/Next extent: navigate back and forth through view history.

Working with layers

• Toggle visibility and change layer drawing order.
• View layer properties to see metadata, coordinate system, and scale ranges.
• Adjust transparency where supported for overlay comparison.
• Search/filter features when WFS or attribute querying is enabled.

Querying and identifying features

• Use the Identify tool to click features and view attributes.
• For WFS-enabled layers, perform attribute queries or simple text searches.
• Export attribute results if the reader instance allows CSV or copy-paste.

Measurement and printing

• Use the Measure tool for linear and area measurements; switch units as needed.
• Print or export map to common formats (PDF, image) using layout or quick-export options.

Tips & best practices

• Check coordinate system compatibility when mixing layers.
• Use scale-dependent layers to avoid clutter at inappropriate zooms.
• Limit WFS requests on slow networks by using bounding-box queries.
• Save connections to frequently used web services for quick access.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Map not loading: verify service URL, network access, and correct layer names.
• Missing symbology: ensure style files or SLDs are accessible or use default styles.
• Coordinate mismatch: reproject layers or use on-the-fly reprojection if available.
• Slow performance: reduce visible layers, lower rendering detail, or use tiled WMTS.

Next steps (recommended)

• Practice by loading a public WMS (e.g., national mapping service) and toggling layers.
• Try attribute queries on a small WFS layer to get comfortable with identification and filtering.