Thanks to all who responded (to numerous to list)! THe feedback I gained contained information outlined in the following paragraphs.
Products in the market already using MapInfo MapXMobile that I was alerted to include: AUSTRALIAN: RapidView by Rapidmap - www.rapidmap.com.au Discover Mobile from Encom - www.encom.com.au MobileMap from MapSolutions - www.mapsolutions.com.au Mobile Data Assistant from Open Spatial - www.openspatial.com.au ENGLISH: HandyGIS by HandyGIS? - www.handygis.com EGYPTIAN: MapOnHand by DotMap S.A.E. - www.dotmap.com.eg All of these products seem to be very functional from a GIS perspective and some of the companies above are flexible and willing to customise solutions to allow the linking of a Mobile RDMS in the background (MobileSQL?? databases) for secondary data capture that is not directly related to the attributes of a cadastral parcel (or whatever...). Some of the above companies have comprehensive product information on their websites which enables aesy comparison of their product. Some, unfortunately, have little or no documentation publicly available yet. Most of these products have comprehensive software on the desktop to facilitate data management between the mobile and desktop tables and, of course, custom form building. Some other comments recieved by MapInfo-L'ers: "Some people mentioned MapX Mobile. You should know though that there is a problem with the software running on the new Pocket PC 2003 Operating System. MapX Mobile runs OK on Pocket PC 2002, but the 2003 OS is different and is causing some problems. MapInfo Corp needs to work on the MapX Mobile code to make it compatible with the 2003 OS. If you buy a MapX Mobile app, make sure that your pocket PC is running the older OS." "Try MapXMobile from www.mapinfo.com where you can download a trial version with some samples in embedded VM and C++." "... MobileMapX is the obvious answer and the demo version is free.. if you are a VB programmer." "There are several companies out there who will set something up for you and i am sure you have been plagued already (some of them are very good...'handygis' looks very slick and is modular). However, My suggestion is if you have an IT mind or better still an IT unit why not point them towards mapxmobile and see if any of their VB skilled staff couldnt do something v cheap for you? I looked at MapXmobile for BGS last year, the development kit is free, the microsoft eVB/eVC development kit is free, the pocket pc emulators (so you program on a desktop to 'see how it'll work') are free and it is very easy to learn how to use and programme. You only have to pay for a license once you have got the system up and running and you are 100% happy with it (then you have to buy a minimum 10 seats at about �280 sterling a seat (but i bet its cheaper in Oz) I built a 'hard-coded' relational database using Mapinfo tables and a pocket access format database for geologists (you dont need pocket access you just use the pocket jet engine in th eVB freeware) It took 4 working days to build a system to capture geology data from topography, exposures, boreholes and soil samples, including photos and 'notes'..all very tricky one-to-many attributes, all interlinked.....and i can asure you i am not a mapx or VB programmer..the only downside was i could not get our GPS to work (my vb skills were not up to it) I am told it is easily doable but eVC is better at doing this...In the end BGS was given a very slick ESRI-built presentation using arcpad and they blew me away with built in icons functions etc and BGS bought into arcpad (we are mostly esri anyway) (though i note with satisfaction that we promptly modified their arcpad software to adopt the stuff i had done in mapxmobile........)" "Some years ago there was a product called Map'in'Hand, developed by a MapInfo reseller, but MapInfo bought the company and quickly retired the product to promote their MapXtend instead. However, MapXtend is a client/server solution, requiring MapXtreme/Java at the server, so that's not what you're looking for. MapInfo do have a product called MapX Mobile (MapX for Windows CE), which will fit your request. However, it's a developer's product, and probably quite costly to deploy (the SDK is free). And it will require a good deal of programming, unless someone has made a commercial product. The hardware problem you face is that having TAB files on the PDA requires a lot of memory, and the largest Palm (Tungsten) only has a maximum 150 Mb "disk space" with an 128 Mb expansian card. Some of the PocketPC (e.g. the iPaq) have optional microdrives with Gb of space, so that seems the better option. There are plenty of free or cheap apps for e.g. Palm OS out there supporting Shape files, but not TAB. ....." "Check out the mobile mapping products from: Examin (www.geobasemap.com) and also Encom (www.encom.com.au). I have used the former and there are customizable forms, very nice. Just starting to test out the latter. I have experience with products from both of them (both are australian) and they are excellent." Further information: >From my enquiries, most systems seem to be based on a per mobile seat basis with the >cost for MapXMobile usually being around AU$500 + GST. Additional software 'off the >shelf' by the above vendors can set you back anywhere between AU$400-1000. To meet my needs of using the MapXMobile product to view a map (in my case of the cadastre - property polygons) and subsequently click on a property and bring up a customised form linked to a mobile database, it would seem there is no 'off the shelf' solution. Several companies have proposed solutions, all of which involve development time (and obvious associated costs), and of course, additional software to meet that capacity. Some of the vendors have very capable data management software back on the 'desktop' to enable appending of new records and changes to exisiting records on the Main Desktop Mapinfo.TAB's if that meets your data capture needs. Thanks once again to all who took the time to reply. Alistair Hart *************************************************** Alistair Hart Vector Control Officer Dengue Action Response Team Tropical Public Health Unit Network PO Box 1103 Cairns QLD 4870 Ph: 0740 503 628 Fax: 0740 311 440 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Unless we use natural resources in a sustainable way, we are mining the future. Unless the relationships between our citizens are respectful and inclusive, we are a divided and diminished society." Rick Farley, Aust. 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