A map data source is the preferred way to connect your application
to georeferenced data sets. A map data source connects a feature
iterator, a renderer, and a map layer, see Connecting a Feature Iterator with a Renderer and
a Map Layer.
Connecting a Feature Iterator with a Renderer and
a Map Layer
The feature iterator is an object that iterates through
the features of a map to obtain the data for the map overall. The
features include the coordinates, the bounding box, and other features
to be parsed.
The renderer is used to create the graphic objects that
will represent the data model objects in the map.
Each data source is associated with a particular map
layer, which manages the order and the style of the objects.
Specific map data sources are dedicated to accepting
specific types of map format. See Data formats for
a list of formats.
The Map Builder provides menu
commands to import and export specific types of map data through an
easy-to-use GUI. The SDK provides specialized interfaces for reading
and writing map data of the supported types and for setting the appropriate
data source.
The management of the graphic objects and their properties
is part of the JViews Framework and is explained in detail in Managers and Graphic objects in The Essential JViews Framework.