output ( macro/python )
This output driver produces vector graphics in the SVG format as defined by the W3C. The SVG output can be viewed by all major web browsers directly (Internet Explorer > 9.x, Firefox, Opera, Safari). SVG is also used by many graphics programs as input format (Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator). SVG is not only a static format, but also allows for interactivity. This is used by Magics to optionally implement features such as the toggling of layers.
By default the generated maps are scalable. This means that the image is rendered according to the viewers size. If the user changes the size of the browser window also the image is rescaled to fit in. In many viewers, such as Firefox, the key combination 'Crtl +', 'Crtl -' and 'Crtl 0' allows to zoom in/out of a SVG graphics. Since SVG is based on XML it is, to a degree, human readable and can also be parsed by search engines. As with all XML derived formats, SVG allows the processing through various XML technologies, such as XSLT or the manipulation through JavaScript (AJAX). On the web server side there is a Batik, a Java-based toolkit for applications or applets that want to use images in the SVG format for various purposes, such as display, generation or manipulation.
Snapshot of an Magics generated map in Inkscape. Please note the annotation made by Inkscape (box and text) and the displayed meta data (CLICK TO ENLARGE).
For more information on SVG, please have the look at following resources: