I'm considering buying MapPoint and I need a mapping program that can be used to plot the position(s) of a ship(s) on a chart/map using the ship's latitude and longitude. I need a program that would have all the maps of the world too...

Can MapPoint do this?

Both MapPoint North America and MapPoint Europe include the entire world, but only have limited detail outside their respective areas.. how much detail do you need?

It could plot the ship if you have a GPS attached to your computer or it can accept uploaded GPS data using various add-ons. There's a number of cool add-ons for MapPoint for GPS.

Eric

Not much detail is required as long as countries are identified on the maps.

I would not be using GPS to provide plot data but rather a database that contains the latitudes and longitudes of ships.

Also, I would use the program to plot ships away from North America, like off the coasts of Asia, Africa, etc. So I would probably want to purchase the Europe edition, no?

Not necessarily.. both versions include the same detail for the whole world, the EU version would have detailed streets for western European countries that the NA version does not have (and vice versa).

Eric

Thank you for all your help Eric.

In addition to purchasing MapPoint, will I need any other software to plot ship positions on a map using lat/long from a database? Any add-ons I need to purchase.

What type of license will I need to purchase since I'm going to load MapPoint on one server, then multiple users within a WAN will be running queries and plotting ship locations from a website

Just want to make sure I have my homework done up front so I get all the software in one delivery and don't have to order more.

>>What type of license will I need to purchase since I'm going to load MapPoint on one server, then multiple users within a WAN will be running queries and plotting ship locations from a website <<

MapPoint is not really designed for this.. honestly I'd recommend getting the trial and investigating more.

If it's feasible, you might consider installing MapPoint 2004 on each person's computer and then having a custom COM add-in the queries the database and plots the ships on their desktop.

Also, you might look at the MapPoint web service, pricing starts at $8,000.

Eric

I heard about MapPoint from Expedia.com which uses your software. So, I thought I could do similar things like plot hotel locations (mine would be ship locations though). Using Expedia.com, I am able to plot hotel locations without having MapPoint software on my computer. Installing the software on user computers is not an option in my case since any user among thousands on our government internet may want to use our site.

We use a government WAN (government internet) from which I could not access nor use the MapPoint web service.

Any suggestions on other mapping programs out there that might meet my needs?

The MapPoint web service is pretty flexible, you ought to be able to contruct a secure gateway between the web service and your intranet server if that is allowed.

There's lots of mapping software for web servers which you would host and maintain on your own server, stuff like MapInfo's MapXtreme to Manifold IMS, also I'm sure ESRI has some suitable software. Also, perhaps MapQuest has a server/appliance which you would house, I am not sure.

Eric