Ok, I know that title didnt exactly say much but if I can hold your attention for a few moments I hope to be clearer.

I am a project manager for a company that handles IT solutions for the food service industry. A client has requested that we add interactive mapping to a new .net application we're working on. The situation is relatively simple and we've proven Mappoint Server 2004 can create the maps and the client likes the output. We are pulling restaurant data (536,000 restaurants in the US) from our SQL Server database and mapping locations by chain size based on the users region (so we created sql views taking a brokers zip codes and outputting only the restaurants within it)

Now that we showed that Mappoint can output maps with this data and everyone is happy, we are looking to automate this process by using Mappoint Web Services so the maps are generated as requested. What Ive found is that calls to Microsoft for someone to explain mappoint webservices interaction and how/if location server is something we should be looking at seem to be evasive. Most of the return calls I recieved were to call a local MS Partner for assistance which Ive started inquiring upon.

Im looking for some fairly straight forward answers about what I should be looking into and are we on the right track.

I was quite shocked to find that in contacting Mappoint sales, they simply didnt have much to offer in SELLING me on using this and helping me get questions answered so here I am, requesting assistance from the devs in the trenches.

This program has the potential to be a national standard with major foodservice industry companies and we are eager to make the best impression.

Thanks for your comments and help in advance.

If you .net application is form based vs web based you can use the desktop version of mappoint. Go to the articles section of this website and you will find an article or 2 on programming mappoint with .net. There are also quite a few threads in this forum.

This application is web based.

After hitting this site and its owner, I got into the proper line of people and am now talking with a couple Microsoft Mappoint representatives, much thanks and appreciation to Mr Frost for his help.

How can i look at files created by mappoint with my Streets And Trips 2003? Your reply is appricated.