Background layers

Background layers enable you to display a custom base map for your map visualization.

A background layer could, for example, be a map of an airport that then has a point layer with WIFI hotspot locations overlaid on it. If the custom base map format supports transparency, you can overlay it on top of another map. Qlik Sense supports the following custom maps formats as background layers:

• Slippy or tile map services (TMS)
• Web Map Service (WMS)

• Image URL (Image)

Maps services must be located on their own server. Unlike other layers, the background layer uses no dimensions or measures and only displays an external base map.

If your WMS contains areas with no data, you can set the areas with no data to be transparent. This enables the WMS background layer to be overlaid on another base map or background layer. You can also choose which WMS layers to include in the background layer.

You can insert an image as a background layer. This can be used as a custom base map. You could add an image of a floor plan and use it as a custom base map. An image background layer can also be overlaid on top of another background layer. For example, you could insert an image of a detailed local map as a background layer over top another map. Background layers support the following image types:

• .png
• .jpg
• .jpeg
• .gif

Adding a background layer

Background layer configuration varies depending on the type of background map.

Adding a TMS background layer

Once the layer is added, you can adjust settings for the layer in the properties panel.

Adding a WMS background layer

Once the layer is added, you can adjust settings for the layer in the properties panel.

Adding an image background layer

Images can be used as a custom base map, such as for floor plans. When using an image background layer as a custom base map, set Base map in Map settings to None. Select Undefined meters or Undefined degrees as the projection. The location data for your other layers must use same coordinate system as this background layer.

Once the layer is added, you can adjust settings for the layer in the properties panel. For image background layers being used as custom base maps, it is recommended that you change the Limit zoom levels and Limit pan navigation settings to set the focus on your custom map.