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Add a WMS basemap

Use a standard image map service​

When adding a basemap, choose Add WMS basemap to connect to a Web Map Service.

WMS is an international protocol for serving georeferenced map images over the internet. WMS typically serves one large image per request, instead of multiple smaller tiles. It can provide multiple data layers with different styles, which can be combined to produce the desired basemap imagery. Choose this if the map service's url contains wms.

1 Enter URL​

This step is required. Enter the URL of the WMS map service you want to use. Alloy accepts a variety of URL formats, such as:

https://example.com/services/MapServer/WMS/1.0.0/WMSCapabilities.xml
https://example.com/services/MapServer/WmsServer?

Ensure the URL isn't suffixed with any parameters. If Alloy fails to load the service, try using https: instead of http: and vice versa.

Select Next to continue.

The first step of the wizard

2 Set WMS layers​

This step is required. Select the Select layers field to list the available data layers provided by the map service. Select one or more layers that you want to use in combination with each other.

Select Next to continue.

The second step of the wizard

3 Set WMS layer styles​

This step is required. For each layer you selected previously, select its field and choose an available style provided for that layer by the map service. There may be several, or just one (named default or similar), or none at all!

Select Next to continue.

The third step of the wizard

4 Details​

This step is required. Fill in the following fields as needed:

  • Name * - enter a distinct name that clearly identifies the basemap.

  • Colour - use the colour picker to set the initial colour of the map area while the map is being drawn (white by default).

  • Coordinate system - choose one from the list offered by the map service. If left blank, EPSG:4326 will be used, which is the WGS84 Lat/Lng system used internally throughout Alloy (view on epsg.io).
  • Image WMS - if enabled, Alloy will request the map service to send the entire map as a single image.
  • Watermark - enter text to be superimposed in the bottom-right corner of the basemap. To comply with the map service's licensing, it may be necessary to credit the provider here.

Select Create to finish.

The fourth step of the wizard

Example​

The WMS basemap illustrated below was created using the following URL:

https://ows.terrestris.de/osm/service?

An example WMS basemap loaded in Alloy
Note

The availability of this map service may change over time!