Title: RE: MI MapInfo Pro 6.0 Demo
Bart (if thats your
real name!),
You ask some pretty
big questions, for which I'll contribute a few partial answers and
opinions. I'm sure you'll get plenty of other respondents
too.
Can I implement in MapX ALL functionality, which
is offered by MapInfo Professional (version 6.0)?
The simple answer is
no. For example you cannot create a thematic map of grid type in MapX
(though I think that all the other types are available) and you cannot snap to
underlying nodes or trace lines when generating new features (though with clever
programming you might be able to do something similar), to name just a
couple. For the most part though, MI's functionality is available in MapX
in one form or another, though it often works a little differently. On the
flip side, MapX offers some features which MI doesn't, for example features can
be selected from more than one layer at once.
Could I
use MapX in a Java environment?
I don't know too
much about Java at present, but MapX can be used in any development environment
that supports COM (e.g. C++ and VB). You may also be intersted in finding
out a little more about MapXtreme Java edition which is a 100% Java solution for
deploying 'MapJ' (functionaly very similar to MapX) solutions across the
internet or intranet.
How does MapX development compare with Integrated
Mapping (control MapInfo from a C++ client program, basically by sending
MapBasic statements via OLE), both from functionality perspective and a
development environment perspective?
It really doesn't
compare - MapX is much better, certainly from the point of view of
development. MapX is implemented as a mapping OCX control and object
hierarchy complete with events, methods, properties etc. If you're a C++
developer you've probably used many COM based third-party controls before and
you'll find learning and using MapX a snip and soon a pleasure. As I've
said before, MapX and MI are functionaly a little different - if you want to
give your users an MI type 'Info' tool or 'Browser' for example, you'll have to
develop them, though this is not usually too difficult. The freedom you
have to implement this kind of functionality in which ever way you want to is
refreshing if you are used to being constricted by an integrated
mapping/MapBasic environment. Forget all about MapBasic - it'll be of no
use to you with MapX.
Purely from a development environment perspective,
the new ArcInfo version (with MapObjects) seems more attractive. Any
comments?
Don't have any experience of MapObjects,
though I find it hard to imagine why it would be more attractive than MapX (you
can see I'm a MapX fan). Of course Avenue vs MapBasic is a completely
different argument, but that's not relevant
here.
Good
luck,
Richard
Burkmar.
-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]Sent: 07 September 2000
12:29To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: MI transitioning from
MapBasic to Mapx
Hi,
We
have build a pretty extensive application in MapBasic. It serves well as a
prototype. Now we want to bring our application to the next level: bring in
more functionality (not necessarily GIS-related processing), enhance the user
interface, interface with MS Office applications,etc. So we are considering
moving to a Visual C++ environment with MapX.
I
have a few related questions:
Can
I implement in MapX ALL functionality, which is offered by MapInfo
Professional (version 6.0)?
Could I use MapX in a Java
environment?
How
does MapX development compare with Integrated Mapping (control MapInfo from
a C++ client program, basically by sending MapBasic statements via OLE),
both from functionality perspective and a development environment
perspective?
Purely from a development environment perspective,
the new ArcInfo version (with MapObjects) seems more attractive. Any
comments?
If
people have gone to a similar transition: any other suggestions, caveats, tips
are very welcome.
Thanks a lot,
Bart
