Hiding map point pushpins - Can this be done?

I use Mappoint maps a LOT, and have a "Master map" file with all data points on it. The question is, is there a way to "turn off"/hide certain data sets within a map point map when you are not wanting to see them.

For example, I have truckstops across the US mapped, or all zip codes throughout the US, but at times may not want these to show up on the map. How can I hide a dataset of pushpins??

Thanks for your help.

Ron

I think you have 2 ways to go around your issue:

1.- Completely delete the dataset from your map, this will definitely hide your pushpins but it may not be optimal depending on how many pins you have and how long it may take to make them visible again, which translates into recreating them from scratch.

2.- Use a blank or transparent icon and change the pushpin symbol to use this custom icon. I think this may be your best bet since it may be faster than deleting and recreating your pins every time you hide/unhide them.

HTH,

Fernando

I had the exact same question and I wish Microsoft would incorporate this feature into future versions.

The transparent icon idea sounds like a superb workaround, but I do not know how to create such an icon. Does anyone have one they've created that they'd like to share? If so, please post a link or you can e-mail it to me at extra2320@bellsouth.net. Thanks!

If you have downloaded and installed the demo version of Pushpin Tool there is a blank or transparent icon (hide.bmp) in the directory that you installed the demo in. Pushpin Tool will hide/unhide datasets and uses that icon when hiding...

Here is a link to the download page:
http://www.mp2kmag.com/downloads/pushpin.tool

I have an icon file which is completely blank, that you can use for the purposes of your question. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to post a link to it, and it would be great if other people could just go ahead and download it in future occasions. I do know that it is not that hard to create one, using a tool such as Microangelo, or even if you have VS .Net 2002 or 2003 you can go ahead and create and icon file and in the colors pallette you'll notice that there is a color that represents transparency, so you can fill the entire area of your icon with this "color" and then save your brand new transparent icon.


Fernando

How do I assign hide.bmp to a dataset ?
I tried by giving .symbol = the path to the file + the filename but it doesn't work.

Thanks

dynek:

What you need to do is the following:

Dim mySymbol as MapPoint.Symbol
mySymbol = mapMain.ActiveMap.Symbols.Add(<complete filepath>)
mapMain.ActiveMap.DataSets("MyDataset").Symbol = mySymbol.ID


Of course you could also assign this to an individual pushpin or to an entire dataset. Also remember that the ID property of the symbol object is just an integer which is assigned by MP based on how many other custom symbols you've loaded up.

HTH,

Fernando

Perfect !

I was using the internal number of mappoint for this but it's way better with the file. That way I don't have to import hide.bmp on each machine!

Thanks

You can go into your legend and instead of using a transparent pushpin, just don't disply that item. For instance, I had a file with retail stores (Food Stores & Drug Stores). To not show Drug, I only selected "1" as the number of pushpin types to display in the pushpin dialog box. This turns off one of the pushpins. If it is not turning off the pushpin you want, just type the name of the desired pushpin in the field name box. So for instance, if it was displying Drug but I wanted to display Food I would just type over the work Drug with the word Food in the dialog box.