Hi,

1. I am concidering purchasing Mappoint 2010 Europe (I currently have 2006 Europe) and was wondering if anyone could tell me what year the demographics data is in 2010. In 2006 it uses 2004 population data.

Or can anyone tell me where I can get UK popolation data that is compatible with Mappoint 2006? Its more the upgrade of the demographics data that I am after as happy with the functionality of the version I have.

2. Are there any major improvements between the 2 versions that should make it worthwhile moving to 2010?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

As far as I’m aware the demographic data wasn’t updated in either the 2009 or 2010 versions. I think you can independently buy more up-to-date demographic estimates for postcode sectors from various agencies. However this cannot be built into MapPoint – you’ll need to hold and manipulate the data in access or excel.

MapPoint 2010 has a brilliant capability of switching pushpin sets on and off which is very handy. Beyond that I think most of the substantive advances 2006 to 2010 related to routing issues, which tbh I don’t use a great deal. My biggest concern with using older versions of MP would be the road network being more out of date, and address finding (postcodes) also being more out of date. I have to admit I’m still using 2009 and don’t intend upgrading to 2010 any time soon.

Rgds

Thanks DavidB,

your response has been a great help. I only use Mappoint as a business analysis tool - for plotting my business data. The only thing new I needed was up-to-date demographics.

Why don't Microsoft do what most other companies do and either give upgrades for free (for the data, or for a small fee)?

Does anyone know where I can buy up-to-date data? Who do you use? I am only looking for UK data

Many thanks

MapPoint effectively has a closed geographic data-set ie. you can’t add to or modify the inbuilt data like demographics, road network, address files etc. Updates only happen with new releases of the package. This is very different from GIS packages that basically have data and mapping components that can be included or excluded. Therefore MS couldn’t just sell a new demographic data plug-in – they need to release a complete new version as I understand it.

That's just the way MapPoint is. Its real strengths are that the functionality of the package is very strong for business mapping (although has stagnated in the last few years imv), very nice interfacing with excel and access and an extensive API that makes it very easy to create rich mapping applications.

If you want updated demographic data then you’ll need to have it sitting in excel or access, and import it into MP as an external dataset. The only really powerful geography built into MP for the UK is postcode – administrative geography is very weak. Therefore one obvious route is to purchase a postcode sector data-base from one of the demographic data agencies. Just google ‘demographic data UK’ and you’ll see there are plenty of agencies out there. This is the link actually referenced within MapPoint

Acxiom: Multichannel Marketing Services company

but additionally there are companies like Map Mechanics, CACI, Beacon Dodsworth etc, etc.

There is a huge amount of detailed geographic data available from the government at the ONS neighbourhood statistics site.

Check Browser Settings

However this data is for administrative geography (various levels of Output Area up to Local Authority). This data can be translated with a fair degree of accuracy to postcode geography, but requires quite a tortuous process and handling large data sets in Access. However there is a great richness of data and is ultimately worth the pain imv - it's also effectively free for private use.

Hope all this helps

David

ps don't know why the hyperlink to the ONS came up as Check Browser Settings but it still seems to work!!!!