Robert-
I don't know how common it is, but we also use MI and AV in the same office.
We also use AutoCAD 2000, CorelDraw and Photo-Paint, as well as everything
from the Microshaft Office package. We have AV because of preferences from
our Head Office, but primarily (>95% of the time) use MapInfo for mapping.
Our drafting dept. creates maps for geological research and mineral
(diamond) exploration, and we also make presentation material, posters, and
slide shows hence the other drawing packages. Anything graphic, we handle.
With the use of the Universal Translator, we can export MapInfo files to
ArcView SHP's in order to share with other users, so we don't need to draft
or buy data twice. Same with DWG/DXF files which we still get from
consultants, as well as all the original digitizing and mapping work we did
before MapInfo (also the need for AutoCAD). Then you add on Access to query
data from the database and Excel to give that data to others and to make
graphs.
All in all, I'm sure it's not too unusual to have more than one piece of
software to get your job done.
In your case, you probably don't need to upgrade everytime a new AV comes
out, as most of the functions you use it for come with your original
version.
Regards,
Jason
p.s. If you ever get the time, take a scan through some Mapbasic (MB)
programs - it's not to hard to pick up the basics of the language.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Glazier [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 8:33 AM
> To: Donna Glover; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: MI AND AV in the same office?
>
>
>
> Donna,
>
> May I ask why you find it necessary to use both AV and MI in your office?
> The
> reason I ask is that I've been using MI Pro 5.0 for about 9 months but
> found
> that I was being asked to run analyses that I wasn't capable of doing with
> out
> of the box MI. These analyses involve patient accessibility to our
> provider
> network i.e. how many providers are within how many miles of particular
> patients. I looked for a cost effective extension for MI but couldn't find
> any
> that met my needs and I have no experience programming (although I am
> trying to
> pick it up). I was able however to get a good deal on an extension to AV
> that
> did exactly what I needed (Patient Access).
>
> To make a long story short I am using MI Pro for 90% of my mapping and AV
> for
> the other 10%. Note that we have 5 licenses for MI but I do 99% of the GIS
> work.
> But, I've begun to wonder whether it makes sense to have both packages. It
> seems
> like having Word and Wordperfect on the same machine.
>
> We will begin to assemble our wish lists for the 2001 budget soon and I've
> been
> asked to outline our GIS needs. So, I'm struggling with: a) Keeping both
> packages on my machine and MI on everyone else's. b) Converting everyone
> to AV.
> or, c) Staying with MI and learning to program for my particular needs
> (kind of
> a painful approach after selling the idea of purchasing AV). Mixing the
> two
> systems means purchasing data for both systems (primarily streets for
> geocoding
> or MapMarker updates with occassional ZIP boundary updates).
>
> To further cloud the process I find particularly favorible attributes in
> each
> package. And in fact lean towards continuing to use each as the particular
> job
> warrants.
>
> I assumed until just recently that a person used one or the other but not
> necessarily both. Would you mind sharing your thoughts?
>
> I posed a similar question to Tony D. as he has experience with both
> packages
> and recieved a great reply . I'm not so interested in MI vs. AV now but in
> whether using both in the same department is in fact not so uncommon.
>
> I apologize for the long winded question and will submit it to the list to
> avoid
> asking it again.
>
> Rob Glazier, Market Analyst
> Aurora Health Care
> Milwaukee, WI
>
>
>
>
>
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