is there a server version of mappoint that allows multiple users to be editing the same file? or is there any other way to do this?

thanks

Hi,

No, but what you wants is maybe not difficult to do ? You mean multiple users editing same map ? And every user's map has to be updated if someone change it ?

Note that this is very good possible using the MapPoint API from withing your own applications, not with the standalone executable.

so how would go about doing this?

right now, we only use the standalone version. im not sure what you mean using mappoint through other programs.

By writing your own application he means do some custom programming.

I think it would take some creative programming to make this seamless for users. You could have a shared database such as SQL Server to which you read and write edits.

Eric

Just read this post. If I were to write a custom app in vb.net and use an Active X control for viewing the maps, what would I need to do for licensing in this situation? I would love to be able to have the maps centrally located on a server and then have a dozen or so computers be able to access/update these maps as needed. Basically is there a way to write a custom windows app and share maps between a dozen computers without installing MapPoint on each computer? Thanks!

You can use the MapPoint Web Service or Virtual Earth. The computers would need access to the internet.

People have also written Intranet applications where a browser serves up the maps for local users, in that case you do need a license for each person, but they would not need MapPoint installed.

Search around for "ASP MapPoint" "MapPoint ASP.NET" etc.

However, the MapPoint Web Service probably gives better a better and more predictable development environment.

There are MWS resellers such as Maps4MyApps who can give an entry level price, otherwise going directly through Microsoft can have a large minimum block purchase.

hope this helps.
Eric

Thanks for the info. Can I get your opinion on the best and cheapest method I should take for my situation?

I am employed by our local school districts to write custom applications. They have asked me to write a custom bus routing application for their bus garages because they feel the commercial applications are too involved and difficult to use. Also they don't like the customer support from the commercial vendors (or lack of support to be more precise).

Basically 75% of the application will probably be non-mapping (handling student data, reports, etc.). And the only maps they really will need are maps of their town. They would just like to be able to add pre-determined bus stops and then have the program assign the student to a bus stop based on each student's location. They would also like to get driving directions from the program and be able to print out the maps. But that's about it. And of course $$ are important to them - they would like to have this program for as little as possible. I'm thinking using the MapPoint Web Service might be too much for a relatively small mapping application like this.

Any advice is greatly appreciated...

Do the dozen computers all need to be able to do the mapping part?

If you can follow the KISS method - Keep it Simple and Stupid - and just install MapPoint on one computer? Just have one person or computer be responsible for assigning the students to bus stops.

Or install MapPoint on each machine - what is wrong with that if it saves a couple days of coding? Just copy the install CD's to a file server and during the install say "Run from CD" which will actually be the network file server so it doesn't use up 1GB of space on each computer. make sense?

Then have a central PTM file - or PTT (template) MapPoint map on a share that have the bus stops plotted so everyone can open it up and see which would be the closest for a new student.

hope this gives you some ideas!
Eric

I certainly don't mind installing MapPoint on each machine, I just want to make sure I'm doing everything legally regarding licensing. Right now I have MapPoint only on my development computer. Can I simply use the installation CD to install on the other dozen or so machines without running into any licensing issues? I really just need to make 100% sure I'm doing everything legally since I'm dealing with school districts. I would probably need to install MapPoint in 6 different districts (2 computers for each district). But these 6 districts are all on our network.

Thanks again!

How slow is the network connection to the six different locations? If it is slow like DSL then you might as well install locally on each machine (choose the Run from Hard Drive option during the install).

You can use the same CD's, there's no Serial Number or Activation code for instance, but you do need 12 licenses. This would be true even with an Intranet ASP application.

Do you know if you qualify for the Educational discount ? -- or is that only for students and teaching purposes, not school administration ? The educational licenses for MapPoint can be really low like $70.

So 12 x $70 is not too bad - i.e. it's not 12 x $250 for the full version you would buy from Amazon.

best,
Eric