Map Maker - Version 3.5 - Mapping Software
For people who are already using Map Maker version 3.5 or earlier there will be much that is familiar in version 4. However, there are many enhanced features.
-
Most popular related searches
Software Details
Top ten differences between version 4 and version 3.5 Attribute data in DRA files
In earlier versions of Map Maker attribute data associated with a DRA file had to be stored in a DBF file or some other external database. In version 4, while you can still link to external data files, the DRA file can contain its own attribute data making data easier to manage - everything can be in one file. DRA files produced in version 4 are still compatible with earlier versions of Map Maker.
Persistent live layer
The live layer is now stored as part of the project file. This means that when you load a project its current live layer is automatically loaded. Similarly you no longer need to remember to save the live layer as a separate operation to saving the project. By default the last project that you were working on is automatically loaded when you start Map Maker. This means that if you have a live layer when you close down Map Maker then when you next start the program you can simply resume where you left off.
Modify and erase
There are various enhancements to the drawing tools. In particular the polygon tool can now be used in three different modes: draw (default), modify, and erase. When the modify mode is selected then drawing a new polygonal shape, starting in an existing polygon, the result will be the original polygon but modified to include all the area of both the existing polygon and the new shape. This is a lot quicker and easier than moving the vertices of the original polygon one by one. Similarly, the erase mode subtracts the new shape from the original polygon.
Simpler graphic editing
In earlier versions a double-click with the Edit tool was used to put an object into edit mode. This 'edit mode' has now been discarded and the edit tool is used directly to drag and delete vertices as well as introduce new ones. When using the Edit tool the location of nearby vertices is highlighted. The Edit tool can also reposition and rotate captions. The 'arrow object' has been discarded as now an arrow is an option associated with all captions. An option of an on-screen style palette allows you to drag and drop styles to assign them to existing objects. Among various new options you can choose to highlight areas where polygons in the live layer overlap.
Page view
Each project can now be viewed in two different views: 'Map' and 'Page'. While the map view is for day to day map editing and interrogation, the 'page' view is like the earlier page template editor but it lets you see the map as it will appear on the printed page. You can add and edit map furniture and alter the scale and position of the map relative to its frame. By default the page size is the current printer paper size, however you can specify a larger size. When you come to print, Map Maker will determine how many sheets are required and you can choose to print all or some of them. Earlier versions required a 'composition printer driver', this has been discarded.
Lat/Long files viewed without the need to convert
In earlier versions any data in Latitude and Longitude coordinates, such as GPS data, had first to be converted to projected XY coordinates, compatible with your map. Now you can simply load the GPS data as a layer and Map Maker will automatically translate the data into the correct projected coordinates. The same applies to other lat/long data such as KML (Google Earth) and OSM (Open Street Map) files.
Rotated views
It used to be that north always had to be at the top of the map. You can now rotate the map to any orientation.
Save to PDF
In earlier versions, as with any program, you could save maps to PDF by installing a PDF printer driver and 'printing' to file. A disadvantage of this was that translucent polygons generally came out opaque because PDF printer drivers did not support that element of Windows graphics. The new version of Map Maker contains its own PDF writer allowing you simply to save to a PDF file where issues such as translucency are correctly rendered.
More formats supported
Over the years some once common file formats have fallen into disuse and new ones have grown in popularity. Version4 of Map Maker attempts to reflect these changes. For instance, MySQL and MS Server databases can be used for attribute data. While long standing vector formats such as SHP, TAB, and DXF are supported so too are new standards such as GML, OSM, KML, and GPX.
File compatibility between version 3 and version 4
DRA files. Any DRA file produced in v3 will be readable in v4. The one exception is that 'arrow objects' are no longer supported. In v4 all object labels can have arrows so there is no requirement for arrow objects. DRA files produced in v4 are readable in v3 but v3 cannot read the attribute data or styles that v4 can embed in a DRA file. Where in v3 you have a DBF file associated with a DRA file you can import the data from the DBF file so that it becomes part of the DRA file.
Style files. v4 uses an entirely new and more flexible form of style file. v3 STL files are not used however they can be imported. When a v3 STL file is imported the resulting v4 style file will not necessarily look entirely the same but the major attributes such as fill colour, line thicknesses etc will the same.
GEO files. Both v3 and v4 use GEO files to record the project. A GEO file produced in v3 can be imported into v4. Apart from map layers GEO files also contain 'map furniture' title boxes, north points etc. In v3 there was both 'on screen' furniture and 'page' furniture. In v4 there is just page furniture which is displayed in the new page layout window. The types of page furniture are slightly different so when importing furniture the imported furniture may need some manual adjustment.
Customer reviews
No reviews were found for Map Maker - Version 3.5 - Mapping Software. Be the first to review!