Monday - February 18, 2013

Using MapPoint to Prioritize a Mailing List, MP2Kmag Youtube Channel, Forum Wrap-up, Three New Tips

Welcome to another issue of the MP2Kmag Update. In this issue we share a very practical and simple way of using MapPoint to split up and prioritize a mailing list to make the most effective use of limited funds for postage.

We've put together a Youtube Channel linking to all MapPoint related videos we can find as well as our own new NFL Super Bowl animation. Take a peek and let us know what you think by leaving comments on our video!

Also, we share a couple MP13 error messages I've come across recently more than once working with clients and simple solutions. I'm not sure I'd call them "common" issues, but if I've seen the errors, it's likely other people have too. Scan and learn the solutions.

Finally, in this issue we share three new MapPoint tips. You might say the first is for Analysts, the next for Developers, and the third for Printing.

MP2K Magazine is your source for independent news and information about MapPoint and other Microsoft mapping technologies and we also host the popular web forum for MapPoint users and developers (www.mapforums.com).

This Issue's Contents at a Glance
- MP2K Magazine Youtube Channel Including Super Bowl Animation
- A Couple MapPoint 2013 Bugs/Errors and Workarounds
- TIP: Using MapPoint's Territory Feature and Demographics Together
- TIP: How to use a Pop-up Progressbar with your MapPoint Excel VBA Macro
- TIP: Print Maps Larger Than Your Printer Spanning Two or More Pages
- More Forum Highlights
- Get Published in MP2K Magazine
Articles
- The Texas Bluebird Society Uses MapPoint to Split up and Prioritize a Mailing List

Happy Mapping and please forward this newsletter to anyone who would be interested!

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Features

MP2K Magazine Youtube Channel Including Superbowl Animation

In previous newsletters we've highlighted several instructive MapPoint videos put together by the Streets & Trips / MapPoint team at Microsoft. We've now finally gone ahead and put together our own channel filled with videos and links to videos out there related to MapPoint.

In our first video, which we released on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII, we demonstrate an animation of Super Bowl contests and their results. The animation is driven by Excel VBA working through a table of data pulled from Wikipedia. The team logos appear above their home city, arrows are drawn on the map pointing to where the Super Bowl took place that year, and finally the victor's logo and game results are shown on the map.

In an upcoming article we will explain all the code used to draw the animation, and we will also share all the software tools used to capture the video.

Also, we would like to hear from our readers what types of videos you would like to see. Other animations or tutorials?

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and feel free to post comments!

A Couple MapPoint 2013 Bugs/Errors and Workarounds

We've run into the following bugs or errors more than once recently when working with clients and MapPoint 2013. We figured we're not the only ones and thought we should share, especially as they both have fairly simple solutions.

The first one is: "License information for this component not found. You do not have an appropriate license to use this functionality in the design environment."



This sounds potentially onerous and makes you think - "how do I get an appropriate license? I bought MapPoint". Well, in every case that I've run into, the computer had a previous version of MapPoint installed such as MapPoint 2011, then MapPoint 2013 was installed without removing the previous version of MapPoint, and then finally the previous version of MapPoint was uninstalled - after MapPoint 2013 was already installed. I think what happens is that some license component or registration gets messed up when uninstalling the old version.

Luckily, the solution is quite simple. Just do a reinstall/repair of MapPoint 2013. In our experience, this has always taken care of the issue.

Next, take a look at this screenshot: which can happen if you have an early build of MapPoint 2013 on Windows XP.



As you can see, the icons on the drawing toolbar are messed up. Note that the hover tip still works, so you can figure out what each one is but positioning the mouse over each button, and there is no loss of functionality, but obviously the user experience is somewhat marred by not having recognizable icons.

Apparently the early build (19.00.18.1100) was publically available briefly before being replaced by the final build (19.00.18.2600). You can check your version by going into Help | About. So, the solution is to go back to wherever you downloaded or bought MapPoint and get the final build, and then reinstall.

Again, I don't know that these are exactly "common" issues, but I've seen them each more than once, so I expect others might have experienced the same issues.

If you have seen these or other MapPoint 2013 bugs, you are welcome to share here. We hope to put together a good repository of MapPoint 2013 issues and solutions.

Recent Forum Highlights

Here are some higlights from MapForums over the last couple months. MapForums is an active community of MapPoint and other mapping software developers and users. If you are a heavy or even occasional user of MapPoint and other mapping software, it would be worth your time to Introduce Yourself and post your nagging questions, share solutions, and get connected with others in your industry or using MapPoint in similar ways.

• Territory Extract Does Not Pull All Zip Codes
• MapPoint 2006 to 2013 and Mapping Address Names
• Why Does MapPoint Fail to Update?
• Finding Zip Codes on a Map and Show Then With Pushpins
• Draw Circles from Addresses v3.0 - NEW
• MapPoint.exe Process Hangs on Close - SOLUTION
• MapPoint 2004 Lost Data - Where Does it Get Saved?
• MapPoint 2013 Europe Trial Crash!
• Problem Shading by UK counties in MapPoint 2013 Europe
  
• Heat Mapping
• Mapping-Tools.com - Looking for MPSuperShape Beta Testers...
• Issue in MapPoint License Intialisation Error 0x80070020
• European Demographic Upload Issues
• Heatmap to Display Rep and All Sales Locations
• Overloading MapPoint?
• Multi Point Routing Solution Needed
• Error on UpdateLink + RPC Service Error
• How to Identify Structures in a City Vista?
  

Have a MapPoint Question or have Mapping or Technology News to share? Register for free and then post in the appropriate forum section:

MapPoint Desktop, Bing Maps, Articles, News & Announcements, MapPoint Consultants & Companies, MapPoint Add-ins, General Chat & Introductions, MapForums Downloads, MapForums Store

Three New MapPoint Tips

I think this is a powerful but often overlooked feature of MapPoint. You can use the Territories functionality along with MapPoint's built-in demographics to determine demographics as well as area of your custom Territories.

TIP 1: Using MapPoint's Territory Feature and Demographics Together

Swoop, a new MapForums user, demonstrates how to use a status bar pop up with MapPoint and Excel.

TIP 2: How to use a Pop-up Progressbar with your MapPoint Excel VBA Macro

MapPoint users often want to create BIG maps, larger than the largest paper size of their printer. Learn how.

TIP 3: Print Maps Larger Than Your Printer Spanning Two or More Pages

Interested in sharing a tip? Please drop us a note or go ahead and post in the Tips & Tricks section on MapForums.com.

Get Published in MP2K Magazine

If you have a MapPoint presentation, neat programming technique, or would simply like to share the ways in which you are using MapPoint technology or any other ideas, contact us to discuss how we can turn your knowledge into an article and share your experience with the rest of the MapPoint community of users and developers.

Thanks to Marvin Hlavac for allowing us to use the picture on the right of his Maltese puppy eating from a MapPoint mug.

"The Texas Bluebird Society is a non-profit organization in Texas with a mailing list of over 7,000 (members and former members). We wanted to send word of an upcoming event in Kerrville, TX with as much bang for the buck with a limited budget for postage."

"The Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) agreed to pay an amount for 1st class postage for the event flier for those most likely to attend and stay overnight."

"From event evaluations, the organization knew those living less than 60 minutes away would not stay overnight. We directed MapPoint to find members who lived at least 60 minutes away, and the CVB budget allowed out to 240 minutes away."

Full article text Discuss this story

Upcoming Topics

• Effectively Using the ObjectsFromPoint() MapPoint Method
• Explaining All the Steps, Software, & VBA Code in Creating the Superbowl History Animation
• Building a GPS Track Player with Microsoft MapPoint
• Pros & Cons of Different Rendering Methods Creating a Maze in MapPoint
• Exploring UK Postcodes in MapPoint 2013 Europe

What would you like to see? Post requests here.