Version 1 (December, 2002)
© Pedro Pereira Gonçalves (pedro@inovagis.org)
Original File wmsparam.htm
Abstract This web page sumarizes the Web Map server parameters used by GIServer.
Author Pedro Pereira Gonçalves (email)
Last Change
History 2002-03-07 : Some examples links added
2001-11-30 : File Created
Index Page GIServer tutorial
OpenGIS : home page and Web Map Server specification 1.1.0 (pdf , rtf)
Important Links:
A GIServer request, in an HTTP GET or POST request, is packaged (RFC 2616) as a prefix with the server name followed by a set of name/value pairs. The parameter names are not case sensitive but the parameter values are case sensitive and can be specified in any order. The general request is composed of OpenGIS parameters and specific GIServer parameters (check out About GIServer Parameters).

The WMS following parameters are defined (OpenGIS, 2000 and 2001):
  • VERSION
    Defines the request version.

  • REQUEST
    Defines the type of REQUEST. Valid values are GETMAP, GETCAPABILITES, AND GETFEATUREINFO.
    An example will be available soon

  • LAYERS
    List of one or more information LAYERS to be requested.
    See also: Requesting Web Map Server Layers

  • STYLES
    List of one or more STYLES to be used to the requested layers.
    See also: Requesting a Map

  • STYLES
    List of one or more STYLES to be used to the requested layers.
    See also: Requesting a Map

  • SRS
    Defines the Spatial Reference System (projection or datum) that will be used to access or draw the information requested
    See also: Suppport for Geographic Transformations

  • BBOX
    Sets the geographic box of the request
    See also: Requesting a Map, Using Mouse Events, Requesting Web Map Server Layers


  • WIDTH
    Defines the WIDTH of the map’s bitmap.


  • HEIGHT
    Defines the HEIGHT of the map’s bitmap.

  • FORMAT
    Defines the FORMAT of the map's bitmap in the MIME-type format
    See also: The WMS Format parameter and the implication of cascading requests in GIServer

  • TRANSPARENT
    Defines if the image will be drawn with TRANSPARENT background.


  • BGCOLOR
    Defines the color of the background.


  • EXCEPTIONS
    Defines the server’s behavior if an EXCEPTIONS occurs.


  • TIME
    Defines the temporal dimension of the requested layers.


  • ELEVATION
    Defines the elevation dimension of the requested layers.