Working with WMS

Find out what a WMS service can do

Start with the basic URL, this is the OGC reference server. This will just return a (relatively useless) informational message.

http://metaspatial.net/cgi-bin/ogc-wms.xml

Then add the GetCapabilities request (note these are not supposed to be case sensitive, so REQUEST=request)

http://metaspatial.net/cgi-bin/ogc-wms.xml?request=GetCapabilities&service=wms

This will return an extensive XML file with the capabilities of the server listed.

Find out about a layer

Plucking the name of a layer from the GetCapabilities request, I can ask for more information. If I omit the version I get an error.

http://metaspatial.net/cgi-bin/ogc-wms.xml?service=wms&request=DescribeLayer&layer=OGC-WMS_reference-server_with_Ordnance_Survey_OpenData&version=1.3.0

Setting the SRS

In my case, the default for this server is to return its images in the spatial referece setting "EPSG=4326" which is unprojected WGS84. What I need is Oregon state system which is "EPSG=2992"

I can add the SRS like this:

http://wms.oregonexplorer.info/ImageX/ecw_wms.dll?SRS=EPSG:2992