{"id":7512,"date":"2018-12-07T05:23:33","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T04:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sigterritoires.fr\/?p=7512"},"modified":"2023-04-28T14:58:53","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T12:58:53","slug":"print-web-maps-with-geoserver-avoid-the-plugin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sigterritoires.fr\/index.php\/en\/print-web-maps-with-geoserver-avoid-the-plugin\/","title":{"rendered":"Print web maps with geoserver: avoid the plugin!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We will discuss here how to set up a solution to generate pdf for printing from an interactive mapping page, the OpenLayers 4 encoded page and the Geoserver 2.14 server. Technically, to read the Geoserver doc,everything should be very simple: Geoserver Print<\/strong> plugin installation , installing test, configuration and that’s it<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Although installation is quick and easy, the problems start when you want to use the proposed test page to make sure everything is working properly.Impossible to make it work and each time we find the source of the problem and solve it, a new error message appears and another problem arises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The script paths are no longer valid, the contents of the libraries have changed, in short, if you want to waste your time, you can always try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also look for solutions on the net and as me, find posts in forums with the same questions asked … and without any answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start from the very beginning… <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The print module must generate a pdf file containing a map and information. This map is produced by Geoserver and the request is generated by an html page written with OpenLayers. Even if you can do it all without another library, you often use the GeoExt library which simplifies the application coding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the generation of the pdf, it relies on the java Mapfish Print\nlibrary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If for one, Geoserver version does not affect the result, it is not the same for the other components. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The installation described in the Geoserver documentation refers to Mapfish version 2. It has been replaced by MapFish3 since 2015. It should be understood that the two versions are completely different in terms of syntax and workflow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MapFish V2 is used with the GeoExt V2 library which relies on OpenLayers\n2. That is to say old versions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are working with\nOpenLayers 4 or 5, the version of GeoExt to use is version 3, and the Mapfish version\n3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the installation the Geoserver print plugin (MapFish V2) is not needed.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a problem; MapFish3 can be installed quite easily. The problem or problems come when you are looking in the net for documentation,examples, information on error messages. You will have, anyhow, references of all the versions but without knowing which version it refers to … <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing Mapfish 3<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mapfish Print WAR file is a Java archive that can be run on any Javaweb application server such as Tomcat or Jetty. To use Mapfish Print as a stand-alone Web application, you must: <\/p>\n\n\n\n