FAQ
This page contains a collection of the most frequently asked questions regarding the GML Viewer. If you have question and you can't find it in the FAQ then use our Support page to drop us an e-mail.
Installation Troubleshooting
The viewer starts up but I don't have an activation code, where can I get one from?
How do I find out which version of Java is running on my machine?
Snowflake's GML Viewer
What is Snowflake's GML Viewer?Is my use of the viewer limited to fixed period trial?
What hardware platforms will the viewer run on?
What is the minimum hardware specification for running the viewer?
Why does my machine slow down when loading large files?
How can I increase the swap space on my computer?
Are any upgrades in functionality planned?
Can I distribute the viewer throughout my organisation?
GML
Where can I get some sample GML data to try in the viewer?
Installation Troubleshooting
The viewer starts up but I don't have an activation code, where can I get one from?
On the download page you need to fill in the form to get an activation code, this will be emailed to you as soon as you submit the form.
How do I find out which version of Java is running on my machine?
At the command prompt type java -version. If this command fails or returns a value less than 1.4 you will need to install a version which includes a Java VM.
Snowflake's GML Viewer
What is Snowflake's GML Viewer?
Snowflake's GML Viewer is a geospatial data viewer written in 100% Java, capable of reading any GML2 or GML3 application schema. To find out more go to our viewer home page
Is my use of the viewer limited to fixed period trial?
No, this a not a time limited trial, its more a showcase for our product set. We intend to support and improve the viewer for a long time to come... keep watching this space.
What hardware platforms will the viewer run on?
All Windows platforms are supported, we've tested Solaris and also Linux. Being 100% Java the viewer should work on all platforms. Unfortunately Mac OS X has a problem displaying text. This is something we will try to fix in our next release..
What is the minimum hardware specification for running the viewer?
All data loaded into the viewer is stored in memory. The more memory you have the more data you can view. We recommend a minimum memory specification of 128Mb to be able to view sample data. For more detail see our performance page.
Why does my machine slow down when loading large files?
Basically you've run out of memory and the system is swapping to disk. Have a good look at our performance page for details on the maximum GML files sizes according to machine specification. You can help by closing all other applications, look out for MS Office applications they tend to take up a lot of memory even if you're not using them.
How can I increase the swap space on my computer?
On Windows:
1) Right click on 'My Computer' desktop icon, choose Properties
2) Select 'Performance Options'
3) In the Virtual Memory section, click the 'Change...' button
4) Increase both Initial Size and Max Size allocations. Initial Size should at least be the size of your physical memory, Max Size should be at least double the size of your physical memory.
There's a lot of helpful support material, first try our user guide page or FAQ page. Unfortunately we can only provide e-mail support on a best endeavor basis, so if all else fails and you can't find an answer, use our support page and send us an e-mail
Are any upgrades in functionality planned?
We do intend to continue to add functionality to the viewer based on take up and user feedback. You can make a suggestion and / or give us some feedback on our support page
Can I distribute the viewer throughout my organisation?
The terms and conditions you agreed on download do not allow you to freely distribute the viewer throughout your organisation without the end user downloading and registering on the Snowflake web site. However, please feel free to distribute the download page url to as many people you like.
http://www.snowflakesoftware.co.uk/products/gml/viewer/downloads.htm
GML
GML stands for Geography Markup Language and is an open standard XML format for defining geospatial data. GML is developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium. You can get the latest specification here.
Where can I get some sample GML data to try in the viewer?
TOP10NL : http://www.gdmc.nl/events/relay4/data/top10nl.zip
AAA-NAS: http://www.geodatenzentrum.de/geodaten
OS MasterMap: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/osmastermap/sampledata/gml212/8692-SU6152-2i1.gz
