MapForums

Hi there,
Map Point is quite new for me and the company that I work for has just shown interest to use it in order to improve orientation and time management when driving through sales territories. So now it is my job to find out a few features of this program. I hope they exist and would be pleased if you guys could help me out on this.

First, it would be great if there was an easy update by means of Microsoft Access (Excel would be ok as well...Access preferred though). Updating refers to all outlets of a certain sales territory. There is an Access Query File including all important information on size...address...channel etc of each outlet. In course of time some outlets may close down or switch location for some reason......now the question is whether there is any way to EASILY update those changes on the map with the help of Microsoft Access. To let you know: Information on new outlet locations are going to be passed on by those responsible for the outlet. New Zip Codes etc will be typed in Excel tables which are linked to a main Microsoft Access file (Queries!!). How to get that updated Access data on the map? If possible, in just one or two simple steps.........it would be great if Map Point did that update automatically when starting the program.

Second Point: Well, as already said above, the region of impact is divided into several sales territories. Referring to outlet updates in this region...is there any other way then creating lists for each territory? Saying that the updated information (Excel) can be directly attributed to each territory without having to create additional Access tables.

Third: How to filter Pushpins? Any possibility? When focusing on e.g. petrol stations I just would like to see petrol stations and no other institutions labeled by pushpins....

Fourth point: Most sales manager tempt to visit several outlets on a tour through a territory. So to speak we are dealing with a chain of different stops......is Route Planner able to optimize this chain by appointing the most efficient/shortest route without gong back and forward all the time and not dealing with a redundant stretch of way respectively?


Every answer would be very helpful to consider Map Point as a contribution to save costs and time!!!

Best regards.....
Steven

Hi Steven,

All the 4 points can easily be covered by Mappoint.
Just begin your project and a lot of people here will be pleased
to share their experience for some precise questions.

If you want to save time, begin with this book. It is not expensive and
you will have a lot of examples to be started.

http://www.mp2kmag.com/mp4dummies.asp

My main job is not programmer and I've learned to use Mappoint in
4 weeks with a very useful project for my business. And I am still learning here.

Good luck

__________________
Mohamed
www.AtlasCouscous.com

A lot of what you want is not so hard to do but takes time to get a "production" version you can release to Joe and Jane user. You might want to take a look at a MapPoint add on called Data2Map. It will do all of your points without programming. You can find the product at:

http://www.data2map.com/

I can arrange to get you a 15 day demo copy if you like. PM me with your email address. The product costs around US$249.95.

__________________
Calv1ns

Hi...
thx for your replies..unfortunately I live in Europe and not in the US...don`t think there is such a book for Europe......
I think I found out the way how tom update the data ( by simply linking the source access file)...but I`m still not sure on how to filter the pushpins....could you please give me a hint for that one please?
Thx in advance..yours...Steven

I had the same problem. Just make an another worksheet in excel where you have only your petrol stations(with a simple excel formula you can easily filter these clients. then just load that specific worksheet into mapPoint and you have all your petrol stations mapped

good luck