Thanks everyone for the input, there were a great variety of suggestions which i will be looking into for future developments. listed are some of the responses.
once again thanks all, this level of response saves me a lot of wasted time running around on the net following dead links and looking for answers. gramercy, ash -----Original Message----- From: Flavio Hendry [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, 20 January 2003 6:28 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps If there are really a gazillion of users out there with just the needs to view, search and query maps, the way to go is for a web-based solutions (MapXtreme). Almost any function you need for "viewers" can be included. See i.e. http://www.mapserver.ch/english/index.php?menu=References for a pile of samples (most of them on-line). Mit freundlichem Gruss / Best regards Flavio Hendry -----Original Message----- From: Martin Higham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, 20 January 2003 9:03 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps MapXtreme would presumably be the best solution for your "viewing" users as they presumably would not be doing editing of the data. Per seat costs for MapXtreme are approx. half-way between MapX (cheaper) and Runtime (more expensive), and obviously deployment and usage should be easy since it would be browser based. However, you would need to redevelop the app from your current integrated mapping. So you'd have to factor in the costs of the redevelopment as well. Best Regards, Martin Higham Avantra Geosystems ph (61 3) 8504 0428 0425-730-428 fx (61 3) 9596 7997 www.avantra.com.au -----Original Message----- From: Simon Nitz [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, 20 January 2003 7:09 AM To: 'Simmonds, Ashley (PTB)' Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Take a look at MapInfo Australia's Encounter product (http://www.encounter.mapinfo.com.au). Encounter is built on MapXtreme so delivery to users is via web browsers. Within our Planning Dept where I work we only have 6 MapInfo Pro users, the rest use Encounter (some 40+). It is also available to the rest of the organisation (150+). It is extremely easy to setup (comes complete with its own application to help add layers, workspaces, queries, legends and more). We have also added our own customisations via JavaScript to embed maps in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook). We also run it externally to provide GIS information on the internet (try the links below in my signature). I would be more than happy to email some screenshots and sample prints if your interested. This is a fantastic way to delivery GIS to the masses and extremely easy to administer. Regards Simon Nitz GIS Administrator Planning Department Napier City Council New Zealand -----Original Message----- From: Trey Pattillo [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, 18 January 2003 10:35 AM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: Re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Point me in the right direction for you needs I use Delphi 5 & 6 so all you have is an exe and maybe an ini. [I hate registry and you can see what hate and discontent with MI/WinXP] I have an app already called ProDesigner. What is does is allow the use to do queries using ProViewer [free]. Yes, users will need to learn some SQL but it look just about MI and I have better "help" by putting in the parameter types so you don't get MAX() but MAX( number|field, number|field ) A tax appraisal office uses it and loves it. Plus since I have the core code it is easily modified for just "special use" Let me know if you want to look at ProV Designer and I'll give you a ftp download. Trey Pattillo [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.wap3.com N27.799013 W-97.665322 -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Cole [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, 18 January 2003 12:55 AM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps You might want to evaluate GeoObjects at http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products/geoobjects.php GeoObjects is an ActiveX control that robustly handles the native binary MapInfo Tab format with associated database functionality - it also supports a number of other standard mapping data formats. You could build a simple application (in VB, VC, Delphi, etc) very quickly using GeoObjects to meet your customers needs. Sincerely, Jeff [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Canfield, Andrew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, 18 January 2003 12:17 AM To: 'Simmonds, Ashley (PTB)' Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps I have no experience using it but in a programming list I belong to there are several people there who use a program called Manifold. I think the full blown version is less than MI runtime. It uses VB Script as it customization language so if your app is in VB or VC++ then you could integrate fairly easily I would think. You may have to give it a few custom .dll's which you could do even if you are using Delphi. If you do go that route could you let me know what you think of Manifold we are curious about it here where I work also but we have no reason to try a version yet as all my users are MI users. It's still something I'd like to know about though. -----Original Message----- From: Hankins, Mike [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, 18 January 2003 12:14 AM To: 'Simmonds, Ashley (PTB)' Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps What about ProViewer? It is free. If they need only a few maps for all, this would be the way to go. Mike Hankins -----Original Message----- From: CRISP, Paul -Syntegra UK [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 8:56 PM To: 'Mapinfo List (E-mail)' Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Two things to bear in mind. 1) Data availibility - if your place is awash with MapInfo TAB files it makes sense to roll out a system that uses them. Unless there is a pressing need to convert data its usually better to manage it in its native format. Data management is the SINGLE most important activity in a multi user environment and you don't need any more data currency/conversion headaches that necessary. So you're probably looking at a MapInfo product. 2) Development cost vs. licensing. For what you're describing, MapX or even a deployment using MapXtreme (intranet browser, embedded browser control) would be cheapest. However, somebody (your project) will have to pay for you and/or colleagues and/or 3rd parties to write it. It might work out cheaper to use your existing expertise - there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this. All that said - sounds like MapX to me, but you really need to look at ensuring data reliability or people will just stop trusting the map. Paul Crisp Syntegra Innovation Place Delta Bank Road Newcastle NE11 9DJ Tel 0191 461 4522 Fax 0191 460 1987 -----Original Message----- From: CDR Group [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 9:05 PM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: Re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps I strongly recommend that you look at using MapX to embed your mapping functions into your database systems. You need a developer to do that - but there is a balance of cost efficiencies depending on numbers of licences deployed (one tenth of MapInfo - in UK that is). Regards John Ievers CDR Group -----Original Message----- From: Rod Ellis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 7:48 PM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: RE: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Hi, I guess the free map viewing tool "Mapinfo Proviewer" isn't quite good enough? Regards Rod -----Original Message----- From: Robert Crossley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 4:57 PM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: Re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Thought about an internet/ intranet service? -----Original Message----- From: Steve Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 4:43 PM To: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) Subject: Re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps I do not have the answer but I assume you have had a play with the free ProViewer from MapInfo. Cheers Steve Smith email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Geography/Spatial Consulting and Mapping (SC&M) ABS Level 3 South 333 (02) 6252-6824 -----Original Message----- From: Alistair Hart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 4:41 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps Hi ashley, would MI Proviewer suit your needs? Seems abit too obvious, I'm sure you've already canvassed it but just in case... Cheers, Alistair -----Original Message----- From: Simmonds, Ashley (PTB) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 3:33 PM To: 'Mapinfo List (E-mail)' Subject: MI-L Custom Mapping Apps heyoo, anyone got any thoughts on designing a custom map app? we are looking at purchasing a gazillion licenses of MapInfo Runtime, and whilst MI is fantastic in so many ways, for what's actually being utilized by our end users all we need is the ability to display a map, none of the other fancy stuff that MI can do. even the runtime is kind of expensive when taking this into consideration, especially seeing as the total cost for developing our database system (where mapping is NOT it's primary focus, just a nice side-effect) is going to be only a fraction of the cost of MI licensing. it's nice that when i show people stuff that i've done with integrated mapping they go oooh aaah etc., but really, only 5% of our users need anything more complex than showing something that looks like a street directory. and when we rollout publicly, that number will be so insignificant that it's likely to be nowhere near value for money. i think i'm pretty cluey with this stuff now, and think it might be possible to design a system that includes only the functions that are necessary to the project. what do you think the feasibility of something like this is? also, given that our office is a MapInfo using environment at a state government level, nobody has ever really bothered to see what else is out there because there's always plenty of money to just maintain what's there, so what else is there that might be useful for simple mapping requirements? ash --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 4985 --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 5080
