On 04/04/08 11:41 -0400, Christopher Schmidt wrote: > > Coming from the GMap2 world, I initially ported our code to work with the > > OpenLayers.Marker class, where it had been previously using GMarkers. I > > knew that I would be using Features to support the vector functionality, > > but when I started looking at how to make certain user-created Markers > > draggable (as we had before with GMap2), I started getting lost. > > Is there a reason that you treat Markers (icons) and vectors > (points/line/polys) differently?
Historical, really. We had GMarkers working way before we needed lines and areas in GMap2. But there's no reason now to treat them differently. > If we were to look at The Way Things Should Probably be, I would say > that Markers are only there as a historical thing. "Everything should be > using Vectors" -- *including* things that you want graphical images for. Ok, that's kinda the feeling I was getting looking at the code. > Note that OpenLayers.Feature in and of itself doesn't get you > draggability: just OpenLayers.Feature.*Vector* does. But yes. Ah, right. Thanks for the tip. > > But then I'm getting > > confused by the fact that a Feature attaches to a particular Layer, when > > we intended to have multiple base layer options for the user to pick > > from. > > This is another GMaps misconception: In GMaps, all overlays are on a > single layer. In OpenLayers, the "layer" you attach features to is > *just* for the features. You will have multiple base layers (Google, Not > Google, Map tiles, whatever) and an *overlay* layer (which can be turned > on and off). Good, I'd already started heading down that road. > In general, you can even have, for example, all your lines on one layer, > all your points on another. > > At the current time, only one layer can be 'selectable' (and therefore > draggable) at a time -- therefore there are technical limitations > blocking this, but that's at least the idea. Well, then let me ask this. All our markers (draggable or not) currently can be clicked to open a GMap2 infowindow for details about that marker. If I split the markers into draggable and non-draggable, and create a separate layer for each, does that mean only the selected layer will receive click events? > > And finally, I don't understand why a Feature has it's own lonlat that > > could be different from the one the Marker has....? > > It shouldn't ever be different. Just two different levels of > abstraction: Feature has a lonlat, and you shouldn't need to think about > a marker at that point. Ok, so it sounds like what I should do is use a Vector feature w/a Point geometry and appropriate styling, instead of using a Marker or a base Feature w/a Marker. > Hope this helps, Yes, this is a huge help, thanks. _______________________________________________ Users mailing list [email protected] http://openlayers.org/mailman/listinfo/users
