.. _geoserver.basics.map_preview:

Using the Map Preview
---------------------

The Map Preview tool is used to quickly preview a layer that has been configured in GeoServer. It is based on the `OpenLayers <http://openlayers.org>`_ library which is a great tool for visualizing layers via WMS. This section covers the use of the Map Preview.

#. Navigate to the GeoServer `Welcome Page <http://localhost:8080/geoserver/>`_.
 
#. From the :guilabel:`Welcome` page navigate to the :guilabel:`Map Preview` by clicking the :guilabel:`Demo` link, followed by the :guilabel:`Map Preview` link.

   .. figure:: map_preview2.png

      Viewing the demo page

#. From the :guilabel:`Map Preview` page, preview the :guilabel:`bay_area_coastline` layer by clicking the :guilabel:`topp:bay_area_coastline` link.

   .. figure:: map_preview3.jpg
      :width: 650

      Viewing the OpenLayers map preview

   .. note:: The **Map Preview** contains a list of all layers currently published by GeoServer. A layer can be previewed in a variety of formats like KML and GeoRSS. The default is an OpenLayers map.

   .. figure:: map_preview4.jpg
 
      Previewing the bay_area_coastline layer

At this point the shapefile added in the previous section has been verified with the map preview. In the :ref:`next <geoserver.basics.style_add>` section the default style for the layer will be changed and the map preview will once again be used to verify.