Initial layer ordering

The default initial layer index provider of a map component uses the ILspLayer.LayerType of a layer and ILcyModelContentType to calculate its index.

Initially, the layer type determines the layer order:

This makes sense because real-time layers typically contain dynamic, continuously changing data, making them ideal candidates to be placed on top.

Background layers on the other hand contain static, non-interactive data and are preferably put below all other layers.

Finally, editable and interactive layers contain data that may be manipulated by a user. They should not be hidden behind background layers nor cover real-time layers. See ILspLayer.LayerType for more information about the available layer types and for what purpose each one is used.

Layers with the same layer type are ordered according to their model content type. A layer is put on top of another layer if its model content type has a higher value than the content type of the other layer, as defined in ILcyModelContentType. For example, layers consisting of points are put on top of layers containing areas. When two layers have the same layer and model content type, the most recently added layer is placed on top.

Take special care when dealing with instances of ILcdLayerTreeNode. Both the layer tree node and its children belong to the view. However, only the layer tree node is directly added to the root node of the view. Its children are indirectly added because they belong to the node. This means that only the layer tree node receives an index from the layer index provider installed on the root node of the view. To take into account the children of the layer tree node as well, the added layer tree node is considered, in order of preference, a real-time, editable, interactive or background layer if one of its children is a real-time, respectively, editable, interactive or background layer. In addition, the model content type of a layer tree node becomes ILcyModelContentType.MIXED as soon as two of its children have a distinct model type.

In this example, we use the default ILcdInitialLayerIndexProvider of the map component, as explained in Default layer ordering implementation. Consider an empty view, in which these layers are added sequentially:

The view is initially empty. When layer A is added, the layer index provider assigns index 0 to it. Layer B receives index 1 because editable layers are put on top of background layers. Layer C is a layer tree node, so the index provider inspects its children first. The node contains both an interactive (layer C1) and a background layer (layer C2). The index provider picks the layer type from layer C1 and C2 that will make the node end up at the highest possible position in the view. The node children also contain different model content types. Taking those things into account, the layer index provider considers layer C an interactive layer with a mixed model content type, and inserts it in between layer A and B. Finally, when layer D is added to the view, it is added right below layer B. They share the same layer type but points are put on top of polylines, as defined in ILcyModelContentType.

There are two ways to customize the initial layer ordering.

The first option is to keep the default layer index provider and influence the layer ordering by adapting the layer type of a layer and/or its model content type. This option should cover most situations. To modify the layer type of a layer, see ILspLayer.getLayerType(). To modify the model content type of a layer, use a ILcyModelContentTypeProvider.

The second option is to implement your own layer index provider and plug it into the map component. The best way to do this is to create your own extension of TLcyLspMapComponentFactory, override createInitialLayerIndexProvider() and return your own implementation.