OpenScales

OpenScales is an open source (LGPL) mapping framework written in ActionScript 3 and Flex that allows developers to building Rich Internet Mapping Applications. Designed for interoperability, it supports data from any major spatial open standards protocols such as OGC protocols and formats.

Being a community-driven project, OpenScales is developed, tested, and supported by a diverse group of individuals from around the world.

Openscales is already used in various projects.

Last stable release is OpenScales 1.1.8.

This documentation is the OpenScales 1.1.8 user guide. It has been created to help you to build OpenScales based applications.

Feel free to join OpenScales community, submit issues, patches, discuss with us ...

OpenScales has been initially started from FlexLayers source code, donated by Scott Pezanowski. FlexLayers was a Flex port of OpenLayers. Since the beginning, the codebase has been extensively modified and improved. Nevertheless, even if OpenScales API is not strictly equivalent to OpenLayers one, if you have ever developed on OpenLayers, you will find OpenScales API quite easy to understand.

Features

  • Support different kinds of layers
    • OGC protocols : WMS/WMS-C 1.1.1, WFS 1.0, GetCapabilities support
    • OpenStreetMap
    • IGN (French Geoportal) layers thanks to GeoRM support
    • KML (placemarks only)
    • Simple image
  • Optimized pure ActionScript 3 core (100 Kbytes)
  • Flex support built on top of the AS3 core
  • Drawing
  • Fast vector rendering
  • Powerful Style API
  • Popup support
  • Tweening effect for pan, zoom and tiles
  • XML runtime configuration to get dynamic maps from a single SWF compiled application
  • Powerful controls and handlers to help you to build your app !

Platforms

OpenScales have been designed to to run on all kind of devices :

  • Mobile (ActionScript 3) : tested on a Flash 10.1 player unreleased version running on Palm Pre. First OpenScales ready devices are expected for 2010 Q1.
  • Web (Flex) : OpenScales 1.1 run on Flash 9 and Flash 10 players, targeting 98% of current web browsers under Windows, Mac and Linux
  • Desktop (AIR) : desktop mapping application based on OpenScales and AIR could be useful to manage offline mode, open local files like shapefiles, etc.