I became curious about that "CREATE TEXT" behaviour and I tried to find the
conditions of use of that way to handle bigger text boxes. I found some
interesting things.
1 - in the MB command description, MI states that the text string should be
255 character long maxi. But if you enter a longer string in the text box
requester, it will be chopped down to 258 characters.
2 - text is stored in 254 character blocks; a string can be broken in blocks
joined by + ("block 1"+"block2").
3 - the maximum number of "positions" acceptable by that statement in 500
4 - the number of usable characters is equal to 500 - the number of blocks
and - the number of format characters.
5 - format characters are essentially '\n' used within the text for a new
line ("bablabla\nboobooboo", or 'chr$(10)' used between blocks and +
("block1"+chr$(10)+"block2"). The first solution requires less 'usable
positions' than the second one.
These considerations apply to the use of that statement in MB programs, in
the MBWindow or in WOR.
Warning : if you create a text longer that the 'basic' 258 and if you decide
to activate the text box by a double click, the text will be chopped to down
to 258.
Conclusion : as the only formatting capability is a "new line" command, as
it requires lots of shaping up of the text like introducing "new lines",
breaking into blocks, managing the number of usable characters, as it is
relatively unstable, I do not find that using the create text is a
particularly effective solution in adding "general" text of a substantial
length from an outside source.
Jacques Paris
e-mail alternate
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
paris PC Consult (mainly MapInfo app.)
www.total.net/~rparis/gisproducts.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Martin Roundill
Sent: March 23, 2000 11:44 PM
To: 'Vincent Decker'; James Marlow; 'Jeff Reid'; Mapinfo-L (E-mail)
Subject: RE: Text from Word to MI 5.5
Additional Text:
For those that don't know you can actually get the layout to contain a block
of text that is longer than you can manually enter in the text box. This is
achieved by editing the workspace file directly. I haven't sat down to
count but I think the test box lets you enter around 300 characters by
editing the workspace file you can extend it to around 410 characters.
Useful if you just about fit everything in and don't want to mess around
aligning another text box.
Another strange but true fact.
regards
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: Vincent Decker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, 24 March 2000 10:49
To: James Marlow; 'Jeff Reid'; Mapinfo-L (E-mail)
Subject: Re: Text from Word to MI 5.5
Just like James, the powerpoint option is the one i have been using for a
while now, and i am very satisfied with the results. All my layouts are
done with it!
----- Original Message -----
From: James Marlow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'Jeff Reid' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Mapinfo-L (E-mail)
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 3:30 PM
Subject: RE: Text from Word to MI 5.5
> Hi Jeff
>
> There are a couple of options (hacks for you programmers):
>
> 1) Use Word as your layout program - import the map into Word and do your
> layout around it. I usually dump it to an image using File | Save Window
As
> but it is also possible to copy the map window and paste it as an OLE
> object. To get a higher resolution of the image you export, specify an
image
> width of about 3 times the final size when using the File | Save Window As
> command.
>
> 2) Do the same thing - but in PowerPoint. PowerPoint actually makes a
pretty
> good layout program and it handles images better than Word. It also has a
> number of easier-to-use graphics tools that make the layout process work
> better. I have had great luck using PowerPoint as the poor man's desktop
> publisher - it's easy to use, the output can be scaled and it is actually
> pretty powerful. You not only get a document that prints well, but also
the
> basis for a powerful slide presentation.
>
> 3) The third option (and this can work very well) is to get your text out
to
> an image file. This is not always easy to do, but it is possible. The
image
> file can then be placed in a Mapinfo layout window.
>
> Whatever choice you make, you will probably find that you need to edit the
> image a bit. I would suggest a wonderful shareware image editor -
PaintShop
> Pro. Go to http://www.jasc.com to download a 30 day trial - which is
usually
> enough for a quick project. I would strongly suggest registering the
product
> if you like it - it is a very powerful image editor with a reasonable
price
> (under $250 US I think).
>
> Good luck!
>
> James
>
> James L Marlow
> Director, Geographic Information Systems
> Channel Marketing Corporation
> 15032 Beltway Drive
> Dallas, Texas 75001
>
> Telephone 1 (972) 858-9600 extension 331
> Facsimile 1 (972) 858-9601
> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www: http://www.cmcus.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff Reid [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 4:30 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Cc: Reid, Jeff; Medina
> > Subject: Text from Word to MI 5.5
> >
> >
> > Interested parties:
> >
> > We have lengthy text for a map explanation which will recur
> > on a number
> > of maps. The text was prepared in MS Word (Office 2000). Our maps are
> > prepared using MI5.5.
> >
> > We are aware of the Photoshop and scanning approaches mentioned in the
> > MI-L indexed comments. However, we do not have Photoshop and
> > our scanner
> > is not working right. We are up against a tight deadline and any help
> > would be gratefully appreciated.
> >
> > Jeff Reid and Mike Medina
> > NC Geological Survey
> > 1612 Mail Service Center
> > Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
> > 1+919-733-2423 (voice)
> > 1+919-733-0900 (facsimile)
> > www.geology.enr.state.nc.us
> >
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
> > "unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
> "unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
"unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
"unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
"unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
