{"id":2974,"date":"2020-03-04T12:40:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T17:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/?p=2974"},"modified":"2020-03-04T12:41:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T17:41:09","slug":"mapcast-troubleshooting-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/2020\/03\/04\/mapcast-troubleshooting-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"MapCast Troubleshooting Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on\nagain?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top roadblocks\nto success with your MapCast subscription and how to address them. In general\nterms, these checklists are the most relevant questions to ask to solve the\nmost common issues when getting started with MapCast in any type of CAD or GIS.\nConsult your software’s help files for specific instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Can’t Connect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Check the URL is correct.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to copy the\ncomplete URL, which is provided on your administrator’s MapCast dashboard to\ndistribute to any data users. In general, a basic WMS URL should look like\nthis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttp:\/\/fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com\/wms.php?UID=*******YOUR*USER*ID*******\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If your company has\na multi-user subscription, each user will have their own URL to track\nindividual usage. Your administrator may make changes to the account from time\nto time. If it used to work and now it doesn’t, you may need to update your\nsaved connection info. Ask your manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Check your URL type matches your connection type.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your software may\nhave several options for WMS, WMTS, and other connection types. The format of\nthe URL you choose from the MapCast dashboard must match the connection type\nyou choose in your software. There are a few variations to choose from\ndepending on your software’s capabilities to read the service, version and\nrequest type, or if the information needs to be explicitly defined in the URL.\nVirtually all mapping applications will support one of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WMS\n(web map service – delivers one big image)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttp:\/\/fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com\/wms.php?UID=*******YOUR*USER*ID*******\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WMTS-KVP\n(web map tile service – delivers image in tiles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttp:\/\/fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com\/tiles\/wmts\/?UID=*******YOUR*USER*ID*******&SERVICE=WMTS&VERSION=1.0.0&REQUEST=GetCapabilities\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WMTS-REST\n(web map tile service – delivers image in tiles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttp:\/\/fbswms.firstbasesolutions.com\/tiles\/wmts\/1.0.0\/WMTSCapabilities.xml&UID=*******YOUR*USER*ID*******\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Are you connected to the internet?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common sense first.\nMany companies use a proxy server that can block MapCast from connecting. Your\nCAD or GIS software will have connection options where you can store the proxy\nserver address, port number, and the login credentials you use to access the\ninternet. Ask your IT person for the info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Is the subscription active?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you pay your\nbill? Subscriptions typically run for one year. Your administrators will be\nnotified in advance when the subscription is ending and can choose to renew.\nOtherwise, it expires and the access ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing Draws On Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Are you making a print?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MapCast has limits\non how the data can be exported. If you’re in a layout view, the service will\nprevent imagery from drawing if the paper size is too large. If the imagery\ndraws normally when you switch back to the data view, this is your issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Are you zoomed out too far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the style\nsettings in MapCast define the scale range each layer will be visible for so\nyou’ll automatically see more detail as you zoom in and less as you zoom out.\nIf you see MapCast as a data layer in your table of contents with the\nvisibility checked on but the layer name is greyed out, try zooming in. Under\nthe properties for the MapCast service, the layers will be listed. An abstract\nfor each layer is included which lists the scale range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Is your project’s coordinate system supported?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the MapCast\nproperties you’ll see a list of “EPSG” numbers corresponding to\nvarious common projections. For example, “NAD83 UTM Zone 17N” would\nbe EPSG:26917, “WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere” would be\nEPSG:3857. Make sure the coordinate system EPSG number from your project\nsettings is listed or it won’t draw. Alternatively, under the MapCast layer’s\noptions, the coordinate system can be set for the project from a list of valid\nprojection options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Kind Of Works But…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. It draws but looks weird.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotating the data\nframe can make vector overlays like roads and labels stretched and blurry.\nMapCast will display best with north at the top. Geographic projections can\nalso make things look stretched, especially if you’re used to using Mercator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. It’s really slow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use the WMS\nconnection type, you can try the WMTS connection type to improve the rendering\nspeed. You can also improve performance by caching images locally if you work\nin the same area without panning and zooming. Some software can support raster\nclipping to an extent you choose, which will prevent excess imagery from\ndrawing beyond that extent when you zoom out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Only the vector overlay data is drawing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can choose\nMapCast to render images as JPG or PNG. JPG are compressed and will therefore\nload more quickly than PNG, however, JPG does not allow for a transparent\nbackground. If you only see the roads and labels, check the image format is PNG\nwith the background colour set as transparent, otherwise the background will be\nwhite, blocking your view of the imagery layers below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. My bandwidth is being used faster than expected.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few\npossibilities here. Check that you’re viewing only the current imagery for a\nparticular location. Since most coverage areas have vintage imagery going back\nseveral years, you could be wasting bandwidth by having them all draw, since\nyou’ll only be able to see the one on top. You also may have MapCast turned on\nbelow other raster layers and not be aware that you’re consuming bandwidth\nsince you won’t see it at all in this case. Turing the service on only when\nyou’re actively working with it is a good habit to save bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason\nbandwidth sometimes disappears unexpectedly is rogue employees scraping data\n(which violates your EULA), or sharing the connection outside your department.\nSince each named user has a unique connection, the administrator can quickly\ndetermine who’s using the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Questions?\nsupport@firstbasesolutions.com <\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again? The top roadblocks to success with your MapCast subscription and how to address them. In general terms, these checklists are the most relevant questions to ask to solve the most common issues when getting started with MapCast in any type of CAD or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[341],"tags":[339,330,335,331,336,333,338,337,340,332,334],"class_list":["post-2974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-troubleshooting","tag-bandwidth","tag-connection","tag-coordinates","tag-dashboard","tag-layers","tag-proxy","tag-subscriptions","tag-tms","tag-troubleshooting","tag-url","tag-wms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2974"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2974\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2975,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2974\/revisions\/2975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/support.firstbasesolutions.com\/mapcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}