To manage web map services (WMS)

Map backgrounds provide context for your data. If the controller is connected to the Internet, you can use an online map provided by a web map service (WMS), instead of adding your own background images.

Available web map services depend on your location. To use a web map service, add the WMS and enter the URL you use to retrieve data from the service. Trimble Access saves the configuration information for each WMS in a .wms configuration file in the C:\ProgramData\Trimble\Trimble Data\System Files folder.

When connected to the WMS, you can control the visibility of WMS data (including sublayers) in the Map files tab of the Layer manager screen.

Data from the web map service appears in the map only when the map is in Plan view.

If required, you can use data from more than one WMS at the same time. For example, you may want to view cadastral layers from one WMS and data layers such as roads or land parcels from another.

  • The controller must be connected to the Internet. See Internet connection setup.

  • You must know the URL to use for the WMS.

    If you need to enter user credentials such as a login name and password, the WMS you subscribe to will provide a URL that includes user login credentials.

    Some web map services also require the version to be added as a parameter to the URL. For example: https://examplewms.org/wms?version=1.1.

  • The job must use the same coordinate system and zone as the EPSG code you will select for the WMS.

    To find out the EPSG code for the coordinate system and zone you are using, visit the EPSG.io website: https://epsg.io/.

    To open the Layer manager, do one of the following:

    • Tap in the Map toolbar or the Video toolbar.
    • In the Job properties screen, tap the Layer manager button.

  1. Select the Map files tab.
  2. Tap WMS. (In portrait mode, swipe right to left along the row of softkeys to view the WMS softkey.)
  3. In the Web map service screen, tap New.
  4. Enter the Name of the web map service.

  5. Enter the URL of the web map service and tap Enter.

  6. Wait while the software retrieves information from the web map service.

    If the software cannot connect, make sure the URL is correct. If it is, try changing http:// to https:// (or vice versa).

  7. Select the Coordinate system to use. The EPSG code you select must match the coordinate system and zone of the job.
  8. Configure the display settings:
    • To make the background more transparent, edit the value in the Opacity field.
    • Select the Base layer check box if you will use data from more than one WMS in the map and you want data from the selected WMS to be the bottom layer of the map. Data from other WMS services will be displayed on top of this layer.

    • Select the Request transparent PNGs check box to request transparent PNG files instead of JPG files from the WMS.

      This is useful if you will use data from more than one WMS in the map and you want data from the selected WMS to appear on top of data from another WMS, or if you want higher resolution images from the WMS.

      PNG files are larger than JPG files and so will consume more data. Not all WMS services provide transparent PNG files.

  9. Tap Accept.

    The software returns to the Web map service screen, with the web map service you have just added selected.

  10. Tap Accept.

    The name of the web map service you have added is shown in the Map files tab.

  11. To make the web map service data visible in the map, tap the WMS name. To show or hide layers from the WMS, tap the arrow next to the layer name and then tap the individual layers to show or hide them.

  12. To return to the map, tap Accept.

    To view WMS data in the map you may need to zoom to an appropriate level. Different levels of map detail may be shown at different zoom levels.

Internet connection issues can affect the display of WMS data. If the map does not show any WMS data, return to the Web map service screen and tap Test to check the software is able to connect to the configured server.