Difference between map layers and manager layers, and use in the IlvLayerTreePanel

Question

What is the difference between map layers and manager layers and how do they relate?

Answer

Map layers, implemented in the class IlvMapLayer, are map styling entry points. Whereas manager layers, implemented in the class IlvManagerLayer, are containers of graphic objects managed by an IlvManager.

An IlvMapLayer instance encapsulates an IlvManagerLayer object. You can assiciate an IlvMapLayer with an IlvManagerLayer by calling IlvMapLayer.insert(IlvManagerLayer).

An IlvMapLayer can be styled with an IlvMapStyle object.

A tree representation of the layers can be displayed using an IlvLayerTreePanel bean. IlvLayerTreePanel enables showing or hiding map layers by checking or unchecking them in the tree. In order to see your dedicated map layer in the IlvLayerTreePanel, you need to add it to the tree model:

IlvMapLayerTreeModel treeModel = IlvMapLayerTreeProperty.GetMapLayerTreeModel(grapher);
treeModel.addChild(IlvMapLayer parent, IlvMapLayer layer);

It is also important to understand that the map foreground can only be populated through maps datasources. There exists the appropriate datasource for all the kinds of formats that JViews Maps supports (shape file...). The aim of a datasource is to convert any compatible format into JViews graphic objects (IlvGraphic added to a manager layer), and to connect a feature iterator, a renderer and a map layer.

For more information about new data source creation, refer to the JViews Maps documentation at:
  Rogue Wave JViews Maps Vxxx >  Programmer's documentation > Programming with JViews Maps > Creating an application using the API > Developing a new data source.