Release Notes - MapLink Pro - Version 11.4.1
New Feature: 1865: Cross-platform Map Build SDK
MapLink Pro 11.4 introduces a major step forward in the platform’s evolution towards supporting cross-platform, code-once-deploy-anywhere geospatial solutions. This version of MapLink Pro delivers a new Map Build SDK which can be used as the basis for alternatives to the Windows-only MapLink Studio application.
The Map Build SDK allows the cross-platform solution developer to build MapLink Maps and terrain databases from a bespoke application so that they can automate or integrate the building of maps into their application or solution, rather than using the MapLink Studio GUI and being forced to deploy a Windows machine into their Linux-based solution.
- Map Build SDK can be used on Linux.
- Map Build SDK can be used on Windows.
- Map Build SDK contains all relevant capabilities offered by the existing MapLink Studio GUI.
- C++ 17 API
- Map building options can be set using an existing MapLink project.
- There will be a .NET 10 API in an upcoming release, but that is not quite ready yet.
For more information on how to use the Map Build SDK, see the developer’s guide.
New Feature: 1868: Cross-platform Map Build Command Line Application
Using the new Map Build SDK, the Map Build CLI application provides a command line interface to the capabilities of MapLink Studio so that the map builder can create reusable scripts enabling a reliable, reusable, cross-platform, reproducible and scalable way of creating MapLink maps.
The application will be available as an executable in your Windows or Linux package. The code will also be open-source and available in our Samples repo on Github.
New Feature: 6048,6051: Updated Military Symbology
MapLink Pro 11.4.1 updates our military symbology set to SVG-defined NATO Joint Symbology Set, including both APP6-D and MIL-STD-2525D symbols, for use in 2D maps.
- New C++ class: TSLMilitarySymbologyGenerator
- New .NET class: Envitia::MapLink::TSLNMilitarySymbologyGenerator
The update completely refreshes our symbol visualisation pipelines; the workflow now looks like this:
- Client code requests a symbol using SIDC code.
- Constituent SVG components selected from the joint symbology SVG collection to fulfil the SIDC request.
- SVG components are aggregated to form the symbol requested.
- Aggregated symbol is rendered to a raster at the scale appropriate for the current display.
- Symbol raster is rendered onto the map.
- Symbol raster cache is applied.
This results in a reusable workflow for SVG symbol rendering and far better quality rendering than was previously possible:
There are known issues with the updated military symbology. See the known issues section.
Updates
- 8445 Update version of log4j shipped with wmsscanner.jar
This release updates the version of log4j shipped with wmsscanner.jar.
This update necessitated migration of the Linux build environment to Rocky 9. This means that your build/dev/deployment environments will need to be Rocky 9 (or equivalent, e.g. RHEL 9) or later to use MapLink Pro 11.4.
Why should I upgrade to Rocky 9?
- Rocky 8 is out of active support. Rocky 9 is in active support until May 2027.
- We want to minimise the effort for you (and us!) required in moving each time, so moving up versions regularly is a good idea.
- Move to a newer compiler (GCC 11.2 -> GCC 11.5).
- Our Java components target Java 25 which is under LTS. Rocky 8 has removed Java 25 from its repos because it was never general release on that platform.
What is the impact?
- If you are already using Rocky 9 or RedHat 9 for your build, dev or deployment environments, you should not experience any issues.
- If you are currently using Rocky 8 or RedHat 8, there will be an incompatibility due to glibc versions. You would have 2 options: upgrade to Rocky 9/RedHat 9 (recommended); or, stick with Rocky 8/RedHat 8 and MapLink Pro 11.3.
Call to action: If this is a problem, let us know by completing this short form.
MapLink Pro 11.4.1 updates the following dependencies:
| NAME | VERSION SHIPPED IN V11.4.1 |
|---|---|
| log4j | 2.25.5 |
SBOM
See the full MapLink Pro SBOM for this release here.
Known Issues
- Updated military symbology not yet fully supported on Linux or OpenGL drawing surfaces.
- Due to divergence between the MIL-STD-2525 and APP-6 and special cases, there are a small number of symbols that are known to be not yet fully supported. These will be remedied in a future release.
- APP-6 Symbol Set 27 Dismounted Individual.
- APP-6 Cyberspace - Space, - Air, -Land, -Surface, -Subsurface.
- APP-6 Amplifier 7 Leadership Indicator
- No support for unframed symbols. For example, Seasurface:own-ship has special rules; this symbol should be unframed and only available for friendly identity.