Pitney Bowes MapInfo Professional - Manual (Page 23)

After you have organized your data visually, you will save the results to files, or send them to any of the
dozens of printers and plotters MapInfo Professional recognizes.
If you have your data on hand and you can read a map, you are just about ready to begin. Soon, we will
show you an example of how easy it is to put MapInfo Professional's power to work for you.
But first, install MapInfo Professional following the instructions in the MapInfo Professional Install Guide.
If you are new to the product, or new to computer mapping, we suggest you refer to
The Basics of
MapInfo Professional for an overview of basic mapping terms and concepts. Use the web-enabled
tutorial to learn about its features, and become accustomed to the more common tasks and functions.
For more product and service information, you can connect directly from MapInfo Professional to our
forum (on the Help menu, point to MapInfo on the Web), or consult our World Wide Web site
(
www.mapinfo.com ).
Reviewing the MapInfo Professional Features
MapInfo Professional gives you the processing power of databases (including powerful SQL queries)
and the visual power of maps, plus charts and graphs. It is an essential business tool for data analysis,
sales, and presentations.
Here is a look at some of the features MapInfo Professional offers:
• Direct opening of files created with dBASE or FoxBASE, delimited ASCII, comma delimited CSV files,
ESRI shapefiles, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access; importing of graphics files in a
variety of formats; a function for creating database files from within the product.
• Multiple views of your data in Map, Browser, and Graph windows. Hot Views allow you to open multiple
views of the same data and update them when you change any one view.
• Live ODBC access to remote database data, such to SQL Server.
• Seamless map layers that allow you to handle several map layers as if they were one layer.
• Legend Designer window, enabling you to create and customize legends for any map layer.
• Thematic maps to create analyses of your data with high visual impact, including grid surface themes,
3DMaps, and Prism maps.
• Use raster underlay capabilities to enhance your work session.
• Querying capabilities ranging from simple data selections from a single file to complex SQL queries
from one or more files.
• Workspaces that save all your settings and views so you can start where you left off.
• HotLinks that let you launch files or URLs directly from a Map window.
• OLE embedding of Map windows into other applications.
• A comprehensive array of drawing and editing tools for customizing your maps.
• Thousands of ready-made maps and functions for creating your own maps.
• Crystal Reports, the industry-standard report-writing program, allows you to create reports of your
tabular data directly in the product.
• A layout window for preparing output.
• Printing and export capabilities for high-quality output
• The ability to change the projection of your map for display or digitizing.
• Object processing functions that help to correct errors in data, set node snap tolerances for different
objects, as well as thin nodes and polygons.
When it is time to run MapInfo Professional, you will feel right at home with its windowing environment.
After you have organized your data visually, you will save the results to files, or send them to your printer
or plotter.
For tips to help you succeed in using MapInfo Professional, see Ensuring Your Success in the Help
System.
23 MapInfo Professional User Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction