Map-In-A-Box Puts MapPoint Maps Into MapInfo
Mapping Solution's new product seamlessly ties the functionality of Microsoft's MapPoint
2002 into MapInfo Corp.'s full-featured geographic information system (GIS) - MapInfo
Professional (versions 6.0 and higher).
The platform provided by Map-In-A-Box combining the two products is arguably the most
advanced and cost-effective GIS/mapping solution available today. After a brief
overview, we'll break down the review into sections covering what Map-In-A-Box offers to
MapPoint and MapInfo users respectively.
Although there are some overlapping features, from an end-user's perspective MapPoint
and MapInfo each have a lot to offer the other does not and can be viewed as complementary
products. In a nutshell, MapPoint offers very affordable detailed street data while
MapInfo allows robust geographic visualization of data and very complete geo-analytical
(i.e. traditional GIS) capabilites. Map-In-A-Box seamlessly integrates MapPoint maps
(both North American and European) as a background image into the rich MapInfo interface
giving users the functionality of both products
After having installed the two base programs (MapPoint and MapInfo) and Map-In-A-Box and
a couple warning messages later, you are ready to generate a MapPoint map in MapInfo.
For MapPoint users:
- rich thematics
MapInfo Professional's options for thematically displaying your custom data are all far
more robust than MapPoint such as allowing for more than eight multiple symbols, ability
to use fonts rather than simple icons for custom symbols, dot density maps, and much
more including the ability to generate raster 'grid' images or color gradations from
your data.
- layer editing and control
Using Map-In-A-Box and MapInfo, you have very precise control over your own layers which
are viewed on top of the MapPoint map. MapInfo's line, shape, and text objects provide a
much richer set of options than using MapPoint alone.
- geo-analytical (GIS) functionality
Finally, using MapInfo, a full range of GIS functionality unavailable in MapPoint is now
at end-users fingertips such as polygon split and many more operations.
Limitations: There will be a learning curve to learn MapInfo's powerful
interface, but it's still Windows-based and conforms to standard Window's application
conventions (Edit menu - Copy/Paste, Windows menu, Help menu etc.) so it should be
straightforward. There's a large community of MapInfo users and developers providing free
advice on an e-mail list provided by Directions Magazine: http://www.mapinfo-l.com
For MapInfo users:
- background map
As seen in the screenshots above, Map-In-A-Box creates a nice background image in the
MapInfo map windows.
- geocoding
Notably, Map-In-A-Box provides a relatively sophisticated (by MapPoint standards at least)
geocoding engine within the MapPoint interface. A combination of GDT and Navtech streets
are included in MapPoint.
- drivetime polygon
- reverse geocoding look-up
Details on these features can be found in Mapping Solutions marketing materials below.
Limitations: First, don't be misled that MapPoint's built-in datasets will
be available as layers for vector editing. The MapPoint maps appears as a single raster
layer behind your vector datasets. Also, quality layout and printing output is limited to small map
sizes by the raster image.
Final word: As a long-time user of MapInfo and MapPoint, I found playing with
Map-In-A-Box endlessly fascinating and compelling. Mapping Solutions is aiming for the
wide gulf which exists between relatively simple mapping products such as MapPoint and
a mainstream, powerful GIS product - and succeeds.
links:
http://www.mp2kmag.com/downloads/mapinabox.pdf
http://www.mappingsolutions.com
http://www.mapinfo.com
http://www.microsoft.com/office/mappoint
communities:
http://www.mapinfo-l.com
http://www.mp2kmag.com/mappoint/discussion
Discuss this story in the forum.
Author: Eric Frost Email: website(AT)mp2kmag.com URL: http://www.mp2kmag.com Eric is Editor and Publisher of MP2K Magazine and is a part-time student in University of Chicago's evening MBA program. Eric recently finished the MP2Kmag Guide What's New in MapPoint 2004.
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