Adding Map Servers to Surfer : WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS, and XYZ servers

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Discover how to seamlessly integrate external map servers into Surfer for your mapping workflows. This guide provides clear instructions for adding WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS, and XYZ servers, giving you access to thousands of online data sources beyond what's pre-loaded in Surfer. Utilize these valuable connections to enhance your base maps and grid-based maps with comprehensive and current geospatial data.

Surfer comes with a select few of the thousands of available servers predefined.  You can also browse through our Web services KB for other server options. Enhance your projects with high-quality online maps, explore our resource on integrating map servers in Surfer.

To add a server to this list in Surfer, for use in creating a base map or grid-based map from a server, follow the instructions below

 

Open the Add Map Source window

To integrate new WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS, or XYZ servers into Surfer, you'll start by accessing the appropriate "Add Map Source" window depending on whether you're working with maps or grids.

For Maps

If you're adding a map server to use with a base map:

  1. Click Home | New Map | Base from Server to open the Download online Maps dialog
  2. Right-click a major category (e.g. Africa, Arctic, Antarctic, etc.) and click Add Map Source.

Base-from-server.png

For Grids or Grid Sources

If you're adding a map server for grid-based operations:

  1. Click Grid | New Grid | Grid from Server to open the Download Online Grids dialog.
  2. Right-click a major category (e.g. Africa, Arctic, Antarctic, etc.) and click Add Map Source.

Grid-from-server.png

 

Add a new WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS, or XYZ map source

To expand your Surfer mapping capabilities with external WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS, or XYZ servers, first follow the instructions above in the Open the Add Map Source window section to open the Add Map Source window. Then continue with these instructions:

  1. With the Add Map Source dialog open.
  2. Configure New Map Server Details
    1. Name: Enter a descriptive Name for the server. This helps you easily identify the content of the added map service.
    2. Type: Choose the correct server Type from the dropdown list (e.g., WMS, OSM, WFS, WCS).
    3. URL: Paste the server's URL into the designated field. Ensure the URL is accurate for the chosen server type.
  3. Click Validate to test the connection and server validity.
  4. Does the server pass validation test?
    1. Success : If the initial test is a success, click OK and the server is added to the chosen category in the Select Data Source list.
    2. Failure : If the initial test fails, you will need to locate a valid URL for the selected server type, or click Cancel. 

An empty Add Map Source window.

Empty Add Map Source window.

 

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4 comments
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  • Avatar
    Paul Meems

    How to do this using automation?

    1
  • Avatar
    Drew Dudley

    Hi Paul,

    Thank you for contacting Golden Software! It's not currently possible to call the Base from Server function via Automation. I've added votes to our suggestion file for these features, however. We will reach out and let you know if they are implemented in a future version of the software. 

    Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance!

    Sincerely,
    Drew Dudley
    Account Manager / Technical Support

    0
  • Avatar
    Håvard Midtkil

    Are there plans to add support for WMTS as well?

    0
  • Avatar
    Sara Olson

    Hello Håvard,

    We do not have any immediate plans to support WMTS. If you have a particular WMTS you are interested in, please share that information with us by contacting support@goldensoftware.com. This will help our development team better understand the need to support WMTS.

    Thanks,

    Golden Software Support

    1

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