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Here's my original post (I hope I didn't scare away responents by admitting I am new to Mappoint):

As indicated, I am new to the software. My first project is to view shape files or Ghana, Africa. I currently have the trial version of Map POint installed that came with the Mappoint for Dummies book. I have three questions:

1. It seems my version is not capable of viewing International data. If I buy Map Point 2006, would I be able to view data from Ghana? Would I first have to download some type of base layer?

2. I attempted to import a shape file of Ghana and got an error. I had added the "COM" add in for importing shape files - source code that came on teh CD with the Map POint for Dummies book. Would this error have come from the fact taht the program couldn't georeference the data or that there was a polygon with a hole in the data (the book mentioned that the import can't handle that)? Unfortunately I don't have the error message available, but will include in my next post.

3. If I want to upload data from a gps device into map point, should I buy the 2006 version that says it has a gps receiver, or will the regular MapPOint 2006 do?

Thank you,

Gary Willick

Hi,

You could also just reply to your previous post, then it becoumes on top again with the original subject.

I have read your original post when it appear but could not answer it. I hope someone else can.

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>> 1. It seems my version is not capable of viewing International data. If I buy Map Point 2006, would I be able to view data from Ghana? Would I first have to download some type of base layer? <<

There are two versions MapPoint and they are about the same price. One includes data for North America and the other includes data for Europe. Neither version has data for Africa. The trial version you have is fully functional, it just stops working after the 60 days or whatever.

>> 2. I attempted to import a shape file of Ghana and got an error. I had added the "COM" add in for importing shape files - source code that came on teh CD with the Map POint for Dummies book. Would this error have come from the fact taht the program couldn't georeference the data or that there was a polygon with a hole in the data (the book mentioned that the import can't handle that)? Unfortunately I don't have the error message available, but will include in my next post. <<

The sample code is not perfect as the book mentioned. You would have to play with the shape files in a GIS like ArcMap or MapInfo Pro to troubleshoot and get the data to import into MapPoint.

However, you might as well use some free GIS viewer that works with the shape files directly. (MapInfo Proviewer?) I don't know if importing the Ghana files into MapPoint gives you any functionality?

>> 3. If I want to upload data from a gps device into map point, should I buy the 2006 version that says it has a gps receiver, or will the regular MapPoint 2006 do? <<

The software is the same, the only different with the one that includes a GPS is that is includes a GPS.

Note that you will probably need some other third-party program to get the data from the GPS into MapPoint, there are some good free tools. e.g. check out CoordEx --http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/

Hope this helps!
Eric

Tbanks for replying. Two questions:

1. Even if I play with the file in arcview or some other gis, won't I still be unable to view it in map point since it can't be georeferenced?

2. When you say the two versions of mappoint differ only in that one includes a gps, you mean a hand held gps device, right? It must be a cheap one since the price difference isn't that great. So either would be capable of having gps data uploaded into it and put in as a layer?

GAry

No even it is it purely abstract coordinates like from a CAD system, you CAN georeference it using a GIS, so playing with it in a GIS would solve the problem. You should put it in Geographic or lat/lon -- NAD83 or WGS84.

You won't be able to zoom in closely however, that is another limitation of MapPoint. Where it doesn't have detailed data itself, it does not allow you to zoom in closely. So if your Ghana data is to detailed, you might not be able to get the zoom you desire.

It's not a handheld GPS, it's a "puck" meant to be hooked up to a laptop. The GPS that is included with MapPoint 2006 (or Streets & Trips 2007, etc.) is useless unless it is connected to a laptop.

The version of the software with either box is the same. There is no advantage in the software of buying the "includes GPS" box. Yes either one is capable of importing from a GPS and displaying data, but I think it requires a third-party tool like the one I mentioned. Did you try CoordEx?

Eric

I will try to play around with the file using ArcView - my cartographic specialist will help. I have several files so even if just one is zoomable that might be enough.

I'm not planning on putting in layers from a gps device for at least another year, so I won't worry about Coordex for now, but thanks.

There was a thid question:

Does ArcView or mappoint have its own parsing function? I have data in Access - addresses - that I need to parse up to map and sort it. Does Access or Excel have such a function? I thought it might not be available in generic form because of local differences.

GAry

I don't know about parsing Ghanian addresses. Can you give an example of your list?

I would try to do it in Excel. Besides text to columns there are a bunch of other string manipulation functions such as: len, left right, trim, mid, etc that are all very useful.

By the way, what is the purpose of putting the data into MapPoint? Why not just use ArcView? What advantage does putting the data into MapPoint give you? Just curious.

Eric

The parsing thing is for another project. The functions ou refered to - they would be part of a vba project, right? (as opposed to functions embedded in a cell).

I'm using Mappoint for both projects because I can't afford arcview (yet).

Gary

Those are all functions you can put right in a cell e.g

=left(A2,2)

will give you the leftmost 2 characters of whatever string is in cell A2.

Besides MapPoint, another thing you might try is MapInfo Proviewer, it is free and doesn't have the zoom limitation. However it would not have any of the background map data such as the country borders.

Eric