Version 5.0.0

Astun 3rd Party Installer

• MapServer v6.0 – this version has some changes to the .map file syntax and is not a drop-in replacement for v5.6. This version is highly recommended for OGC layers. Map files may need to be amended to be compatible with the new version. The MapServer Migration Guide is a helpful reference. Sections we have found useful are 'OGC Web Services', 'OUTPUTFORMAT' and 'Map file changes - Ability to escape single/double quotes'. OGC layers should really only be used with MapServer 6.0 as with MapServer 5.6 filters cannot determine the type of a field.
• PostgreSQL v9.0 and PostGIS v1.5 – this version provides the latest stability and speed.
• OpenLayers 2.11 – provides new stability.
• PyGreSQL - included in the Python installation as this is required for the Astun Backup procedure.

Pre-Requisites

This release of iShare requires the Microsoft .NET Framework v3.5 Service Pack 1 to be installed and enabled.

iShare GIS

Phase 2 of the iShare GIS module, with a more intuitive user interface. We have developed a comprehensive ‘annotations’ capability as the first step to creating the complete Intranet GIS solution. There is a new Filters Selection allowing users to carry out more complex queries such as show all recycling sites where collection day is Tuesday. Users can now modify the thematic maps made available to them.

Please see the iShare GIS topic for complete details on the new features.

Select / Measure

• New – Circle selection option which allows you to change the radius of the circle.
• If you use Selection or Measure tools the radius (for circle) and area (polygons) will be displayed in both km and miles.
• Fixed issue where IE9 crashes when using Measure tools - moved to OpenLayers 2.11.

Map / Layers / Legend

• Cursor coordinates are now displayed with a white background on the map for increased visibility.
• The width of the Copyright statement is now limited to prevent it overlapping the scale bar.
• Reduced time taken to load when using Roles.
• Fixed the bug when an unavailable or missing base map was preventing the load of the map. Will now try loading from the first one in the list in the Map Source. If nothing loads a message will be displayed.
• New Reset Layers button to reset the map back to the default set in the Map Source.
• You can now remove all overlay layers from the map. Previously you had to leave at least one selected.
• The Legend can be automatically generated from .map file if no icon is specified in Studio. See Using Dynamic Legends.

Information Browser

• The Information Browser now uses Display Names for field headings, if they exist.
• Fixed the problem when exporting to MS Excel.

Print to PDF

• Maps printed to PDF can now have an image containing the legend of currently visible map layers.  This can be positioned using CSS (defaults to bottom right). Default templates now contain the new legend but this can be removed if required.
• Scale is no longer limited to a maximum of 250,000:1.
• The PDF filename generated from the title now replaces invalid characters with underscores.

iShare has been enhanced to use Workspaces and Languages. Using Workspaces is a way of serving information to two or more separate Sites using a single centralised iShare installation. Workspaces would also be used if you wish to have a separate site for different Languages e.g. English and Welsh. See Configure Workspaces topic for details.

• Languages allow the user interface to be customised; such as by changing the text on a button or label.
• The Legend can be automatically generated from .map file if no icon is specified in Studio. See Using Dynamic Legends.

NHS Choices Downloader [ADS]

The NHS Choices API provides public access to health service related information via the web. This includes name, address, postcode, location and URL information for individual services (pharmacies, opticians, hospitals, doctors and dentists). Furthermore the URLs returned from the NHS API link to a host of additional information, for example, contact information and opening times.

The Astun Data Services (ADS) NHS Choices Downloader essentially acts as a central repository for the NHS Choices data for England. This links seamlessly with iShare Maps and iShare GIS allowing NHS service information to be displayed on map layers.