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MapInfo Fundamentals
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. What is MapInfo? Not The Average Application
2. Core Components
a. What is a Table? Overview of a Tables Files .Tab, .Dat, .Map, .Id and .Ind
b. What is a Workspace?
c. File Organization Using Template Folders
3. Creating Points Maps
a. Methodology for Creating a Map: 8 Steps to Remember When Mapping
b. Geocode
c. Create Points
d. Thematic Mapping
e. Cleaning up Data for Thematic Mapping
f. Labeling Points
4. Creating Regions Maps
a. What is SQL?
b. Creating Simple QueriesFiltering US State Regions
Description
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 1
What is MapInfo
In this section, you will learn to:
Describe how the MapInfo application works
Identify the differences between MapInfo and other software
Recognize and apply basic MapInfo terminology
What MapInfo Is
MapInfo is a GIS (Geographic Information System) desktop mapping software that can
create a wide range of maps, from state shading maps to point maps, to customized
region and line maps (such as counties), statistical market areas, telecom network lines
and more.
MapInfo can use imported information (or data) from various sources, as long as it is in
database (dB) form. Maps are created from the most common types of databases, such
as a client address database. Maps can be created using a client's street address, city and
state or zip code.
There are two ways to visualize GIS dataraster maps and vector maps. For the most
part, raster maps usually fuse satellite photos or aerial pictures with spatial data. Vector
maps, on the other hand, are derived entirely from spatial data that are represented by
points, polygons and lines.
GIS mapping is widely used by several industries including Security, Law Enforcement
agencies, Telecom, Retail companies, the Federal Government and Environmental
agencies, just to name a few.
What MapInfo is Not
Most new MapInfo users have been known to say, MapInfo isn't user-friendly or
MapInfo isn't an intuitive application. In the beginning, this is undoubtedly true, given
the years that an operator may have been using insightful software such as Word or
PowerPoint which are world-renowned applications known for ease of use, detailed help
files, and a vast pool of internet resources including video tutorials and books. They are
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 1
user-reliant, requiring user input for an immediate effect such as entering a sentence,
bolding a word, drawing a box or diagram.
On the other hand, MapInfo (MI) is a method-based software that requires a user to
build or arrive at a solution(s) using one or more databases of geographic and statistical
data. While it has been slated a desktop application, most of MapInfo's primary and most
powerful features are analytical in nature. From this perspective, it is very similar to
Excel and dBase, which are also database-driven applications.
MI's inclusion of the geographic aspect is what differentiates it. With Excel, for instance,
when you need to create a chart, you must answer these basic questions:
1) What type of chart is being created?
2) What data is used to create the chart?
However, when you are given a submission to create a map, you are given basic
information such as the region of the map, the type of map to be created and a
submission of data. Before you can create the map, you answer one or all of these basis
questions:
1) Can I create the map with the data available?
2) If unavailable, can the data be bought, found or created?
3) What region template is required?
4) Based on the type of data submitted, what MapInfo function must be used to create
the map, and
5) What reference data must be used?
Overall, the creation of a map is more involved and requires a meticulous processing
methodology. Initially, it may seem profound, but over time and with practice, it will be a
piece of cake.
Most Common Types of MapInfo Maps
MapInfo can create a variety of maps and can be used to perform a wide range of data
analyses. The most of the vector maps created by MapInfo are:
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 1
Layout Window
Map Window
Mapper
Another MapInfo term for a map window or map view, the visual
view of a table's geographic and graphic information.
Table
View
Workspace
A feature that saves the table information and formatting of map and
layout window arrangements used during a mapping session.
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 2
Core Components
In this section, you will learn to:
Identify and explain the associated files of a table
Open and close tables
Open and close views
Identify the properties of a workspace
Identify the components of standalone template folder
Identify the components of a linked template folder
What is a MapInfo Table?
Tables are the core source of information for all of MapInfos functions. Fully functioning
MapInfo tables will consist of at least 2, but not more than 5 files. If there is a .tab, but
no .dat file, the .tab file is linked to a Excel file. The five file extensions are .tab, .dat,
.map, .id and .ind. The diagram below further explains the function of each.
.IND
This file is created when
a field/column of a table
is selected to be
searchable
.TAB
This file is an ID file which
holds the application information
specific to MapInfo
.MAP
.DAT
.ID
This file is created when
there are both .DAT and
.MAP files saved within the
workspace file
MapInfo tables can be exported and used in other database applications such as Excel and
dBase.
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 2
Browser
Current Map
Adds the geographic information contained in the table into the current
map window.
New Mapper
No View
Note:
Closing a browser window for a table using the windows close button does not
close the table within the workspace. A table remains open and available for use
until it is closed using File | Close Table
Exercise 1 provides hands-on practice for working with tables and their associated
views.
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MapInfo Fundamentals
Section 2
Launch MapInfo: (Start > Programs > MapInfo) When MapInfo is first opened a
Quick Start box with four options appears Select Open a Table, the Open dialog
box opens. [If MapInfo is already open, and the Quick Start box has been closed,
Select File | Open (CTRL+O)]
Opening a Browser view: On the Open dialog box, select the Preferred View drop
down list Select Browser (Files of Type should be MapInfo.tab) Open the
US48.TAB
Open a Map View: Select Window | New Map Window (F3). It is a visual view
of the geographic data.
View the Entire Map Layer: Select Map | View Entire Layer. The View Entire
Layer dialog box opens with the default selection, All Layers, active Click Ok
View Entire Layer will show all the geographic and graphic information attached to a
table in the active map window.
Closing the Map View: Select one of your map windows to make it the active
window Click the windows close button. Repeat this step for the other map
window
Note:
Closing the Browser View: Now that all your map windows are closed, one of the
browser windows will be active Close both of the browser windows. Use the
windows close button
Note:
When a map window is closed, all formatting will be lost. You cannot
restore a map window to a specific condition; a new map window must be
opened and the formatting reapplied.
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