ThinkGeo and Map Suite ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

Legend Adornment Layer

The Map Suite Code Community continues to be a great source of ideas and sample code to enhance your Map Suite applications. This month's projects include new ways to style your Map Suite Routing apps, add points of interest and map legends, draw pie shapes and more. Check out some of the highlights:

POI on Route

Take your Map Suite Routing apps further by displaying points of interest along your routes. For this, we use a MultiLineShape based on the routing result, then perform a spatial query.

Routing Styles

In case you need more control over the styles of your Routing application, we'll show you how to use an InMemoryFeatureLayer to display a custom start point and end point as well as the route itself.

By popular request, this project introduces a new class called LegendAdornmentLayer. This class helps you create a basic legend for your map by displaying the symbols for each layer in each overlay of your map.

Draw a Pie Shape

Since a pie shape is not one of Map Suite's standard shapes, we've prepared this sample to demonstrate how to draw one yourself. In essence, you can create a pie shape by adding additional points to a given ellipse shape.

Custom Track Line

This project shows you how to extend the TrackInteractiveOverlay in Map Suite Desktop Edition when drawing a line. You can override the MouseDownCore function to draw a line on left mouse click, and allow the most recent vertex to be deleted on a right mouse click.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Don't forget that you can use the Code Community as a way to showcase your own custom-developed extensions for Map Suite. Do you have a great idea for a Map Suite add-on that will save developers time or add a useful feature? Tell us about it and we'll set you up with your very own space on the Code Community, complete with its own issue tracking, wiki, discussion forums, source code repository and member roles.

All code posted to the Map Suite Code Community is offered under the Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL), an open source initiative that gives you the flexibility to re-use the code in your own packages, including commercial projects.

Submit Your Map Suite App, Get 10% Off Your Next Software Assurance Plan Renewal

Have you used Map Suite to create a stunning application? Share your application with us, and we might feature it in the Map Suite App Gallery, complete with a link to your website. Even better, if your app qualifies for display in the gallery, you'll receive 10% off your next Software Assurance Plan renewal for one Map Suite product or extension.*

To qualify, your application must have been developed using Map Suite Desktop, Web, Services or Silverlight Edition. If you have a Web-based application, please submit a link to the application itself if possible. Otherwise, submit a link to the product information or screenshots page.

To enter your application for inclusion in the Map Suite App Gallery, please fill out the form on our website. Alternatively, you can email us your information or call 1-866-727-4133. (Outside North America, please dial 1-785-727-4133.)

*The 10% off your next Software Assurance Plan offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Map Suite
Cygnus Track
Custom GIS Services
Buy Now at the ThinkGeo Store

Now you can download free evaluation demos of our most popular products. They are fully-functional and contain no locked or inaccessible features. Try Map Suite free for 60 days and see how easy GIS development can be!

This Month: Download the new 3.1 Final Release of Map Suite Geocoder.

In This Issue

Final Release: Map Suite Geocoder 3.1
New Product: Map Suite Vehicle Tracking Starter Kit
Introducing Map Suite Daily Builds
Roadmap to Map Suite 2010
Code Community Roundup: February 2010
Get 10% Off Your Next Software Assurance Plan Renewal

Do you need a custom GIS solution? Don't have the time or the staff to build it yourself? Let us handle it!

With years of experience, ThinkGeo's certified developers will work with you to create the perfect GIS solution that fits your needs and your budget. Get in touch with us today and let us do the heavy lifting. Tell us about your project here or call 1-866-847-7510.

Products & Services

Support & Documentation

Customer Portal
Discussion Forums
Map Suite Code Community
Developer Blog
Product Documentation
Quick Start Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilities & Data
Contact Us

January 2010 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:36:03 GMT

Read From Your ArcSDE® Geodatabases with the Map Suite Spatial Data Extension

Get Your Free Trial of the Spatial Data Extension

Now you can read from your ArcSDE® geodatabases with Map Suite! The Map Suite Spatial Data Extension is an add-on for Map Suite that enables reading of spatial data from ArcSDE 9.3. Now you can use the familiar tools of Map Suite to render ArcSDE data just like you would ShapeFiles, Oracle Spatial or other supported formats.

Our customers have often requested a way to read ArcSDE data using Map Suite. The Spatial Data Extension gives you a quick and easy way to do exactly that, exposing ArcSDE data as a regular layer so that you can integrate it seamlessly into your Map Suite project. You can then use all the common tools of Map Suite to render the data and view it however you like. It's that simple.

Using the Spatial Data Extension is as easy as adding a reference in your Map Suite project. In just a few lines of code, your ArcSDE data is exposed in Map Suite as a layer and a FeatureSource so that you can programmatically read the data.

Want to give the Spatial Data Extension a try? Download a free 60-day evaluation and take it for a test drive in your own environment. If you need any help during your evaluation, feel free to post your questions on our dedicated support forum.

Please note that in order to use the Spatial Data Extension, you'll need either an evaluation or full version of Map Suite Desktop, Web, Silverlight or Services Edition.

Map Suite World Map Kit Now Shipping with 2009 Street Data Update

Learn More about the Map Suite World Map Kit

Take your mapping applications even further with the Map Suite World Map Kit's 2009 Street Data Update! We've integrated the U.S. Census Bureau's most current TIGER® road and point data for better accuracy, added new sample applications to make development even easier, plus other improvements.

What's New in the 2009 Street Data Update?

New map data based on TIGER® 2009 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
New sample applications demonstrating how to use the World Map Kit with Map Suite Desktop, Web, Silverlight and Services Edition, in both C# and VB.NET.
You can now utilize a subset of data rather than the complete dataset.
The Render class is now derived from the abstract Layer class, making it more straightforward to use.
Overall performance improvements.

How Do I Get the New 2009 Street Data Update?

World Map Kit licensees who have a current Software Assurance Plan will be receiving their updates by mail on DVD within the coming weeks. If your plan has lapsed and you want to update your copy of the World Map Kit, please call your ThinkGeo sales representative at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Code Community Roundup: January 2010

Centering on a Moving Vehicle

It's been a busy month at the Map Suite Code Community. Inspired by requests and suggestions from our customers at the Map Suite discussion forums, we've put together a variety of new projects that demonstrate some of the most oft-requested ideas. Learn how to snap GPS points to streets, label moving vehicles and much more.

GPS to Google Map

Many of our users would like to display point data (for instance, incoming GPS readings) on a Google Map. This sample Web-based project will show you how to interpret GPS data, project it to match Google, and then plot it on a Google Map.

Snap GPS to Street

Because of the built-in error factor when using GPS, location points of tracked vehicles may not display precisely on a street or highway. This project will show you how to snap a real-time GPS point to the nearest road layer.

A commonly requested feature when tracking a vehicle for GPS applications is to have the map centered on a vehicle as it moves. Implementing this is easy with Map Suite when using the CenterAt API.

Centering Map with Tolerance

Here, we go beyond the "Centering on a Moving Vehicle" project and add some polish to prevent the map from refreshing too often. This is accomplished by establishing a tolerance that will determine whether the map needs to be refreshed or not.

Moving Vehicle with Label

Further exploring the GPS tracking applications of Map Suite, this project shows how to label a moving vehicle and continually update the label with the vehicle's current coordinates.

Street Intersection

Based on a customer request, we built this sample project to show you how to get the intersection point of two streets.

ValueStyle with Countries

Here, we take the Map Suite "How Do I...?" sample app called "Draw Features Based on Values" a step further. This sample applies a ValueStyle to a polygon-based countries layer, rather than a point-based cities layer.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Submit Your Map Suite App, Get 10% Off Your Next Software Assurance Plan Renewal

*The 10% off your next Software Assurance Plan offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Map Suite
Cygnus Track
Custom GIS Services
Buy Now at the ThinkGeo Store

In This Issue

Read From Your ArcSDE® Geodatabases with the Map Suite Spatial Data Extension
Map Suite World Map Kit Now Shipping with 2009 Street Data Update
Code Community Roundup: January 2010
Get 10% Off Your Next Software Assurance Plan Renewal

Do you need a custom GIS solution? Don't have the time or the staff to build it yourself? Let us handle it!

Products & Services

Support & Documentation

Customer Portal
Discussion Forums
Map Suite Code Community
Developer Blog
Product Documentation
Quick Start Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilities & Data
Contact Us

December 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:46:45 GMT

Find What You're Looking For with the New Map Suite Site Search

Try the New Map Suite Site Search

When you're looking for a specific piece of Map Suite support information, documentation or other reference, sometimes finding it can be a challenge. That's why we've just added the new Map Suite Site Search, a comprehensive search engine powered by Google. With it, you can get results from the discussion forums, API documentation, Code Community and more.

The Map Suite Site Search also includes numerous refinements that help you filter your queries by type -- for instance, if you only want to see discussion forum posts related to Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.x. Our new search page, built with Google Custom Search technology, is powered by AJAX for high-performance return and browsing of results.

While the Site Search is still a work in progress that we will be tweaking and improving upon, we hope you'll give it a try today and see if you find it valuable. If you have comments about the Site Search engine, feel free to drop us a line and let us know at support@thinkgeo.com.

New Demo: See How Map Suite Products Work Together

Try the Demo at http://maps.thinkgeo.com

We recently launched a new interactive demo that demonstrates how multiple Map Suite products work together seamlessly in a single application, combining Map Suite Web and Silverlight Editions, Map Suite Geocoder, and the World Map Kit.

The all-new maps.thinkgeo.com can be toggled between a Web-based and Silverlight-based map control, demonstrating the user experience of each. You can browse full maps of the globe using the built-in World Map Kit dataset, or search for any U.S.-based address using the text box at the top of the screen with results powered by Map Suite Geocoder 3.0.

All of the Map Suite products that power the new demo are currently available for purchase or free evaluation. Simply visit our website or contact our sales team for further details.

Have You Built an App Like This?

If you've built an app like this with Map Suite, we've love to showcase it in our Map Suite App Gallery! Tell us about your creations here and your work might be featured on our website.

Code Community Roundup: December 2009

Displaying One-Way Streets

Happy Holidays from the Map Suite Code Community! Our Map Suite architects continue to dream up new ways for you to extend your application's functionality, add new features and save lots of time. Check out some of the projects we've posted for you this month, and don't forget to subscribe to the Code Community RSS feed to stay on top of all the new ideas.

Merging Polygon Layers, Point Layers and Line Layers

If you have many files of the same type, representing the same kind of features, and want to combine them into one for maintenance purposes, these three projects will show you how. Whether you want to merge polygon layers, point layers or line layers, we have a solution for you.

Snap to Layer

This project shows how you can apply snapping to an EditInteractiveOverlay. This technique lets you drag a shape's control point and have it snap to the closest vertex of a layer, if it is within the tolerance specified.

Save To Projection

Map Suite's "How Do I?" sample apps show you how to project a layer in one projection to another. While this is useful, you may need to actually create a new layer in the desired projection. This project does just that.

You may have seen the way Google Maps™ uses a small gray arrow to indicate a one-way street. This project lets you emulate that behavior in Map Suite by creating a LineStyle specifically for that purpose.

Label to Show Location

You can use layers not just for displaying, but also for getting location information on the current extent of the map. This project illustrates how to show the U.S. county and state for the area being displayed.

Identify Point with Icon

If you use icons to represent features, and want to perform some action when an icon is clicked, you'll want the entire icon to be considered part of the "click zone." This project shows you how to identify a feature with an informative pop-up window when any part of a feature's icon is clicked.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Test the New Map Suite ArcSDE Extension Beta

Many of our customers have asked us when Map Suite will support reading of data stored in ArcSDE databases. We're pleased to announce that the new ArcSDE extension for Map Suite is now available for beta testing! We're looking for Map Suite developers who need ArcSDE functionality and who would be willing to test the extension and give us their feedback.

If you're interested in testing the ArcSDE extension and reporting your findings to ThinkGeo, please contact our development staff at support@thinkgeo.com and let us know. Alternatively, call 1-866-727-4133 and tell us you want to test the ArcSDE extension. (Outside North America, please dial 1-785-727-4133.)

Interested in GPS Tracking?
Check Out Cygnus Track 5.0

Get Your Own Free Trial of Cygnus Track

Did you know that in addition to Map Suite, ThinkGeo also offers a professional GPS asset tracking system? Cygnus Track, our fully-customizable GPS tracking software platform, has just been updated to version 5.0 and now offers a free 30-day trial.

If you've ever been interested in tracking vehicles, employees, property or anything else, this is a great opportunity to try Cygnus Track for no cost and at absolutely no risk. Get your free trial now or visit our Cygnus Track website to learn more about how GPS tracking works.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Map Suite
Cygnus Track
Custom GIS Services
Buy Now at the ThinkGeo Store

In This Issue

Find What You're Looking For with the New Map Suite Site Search
New Demo: See How Map Suite Products Work Together
Code Community Roundup: December 2009
Test the New Map Suite ArcSDE Extension Beta
Interested in GPS Tracking? Check Out Cygnus Track 5.0

Do you need a custom GIS solution? Don't have the time or the staff to build it yourself? Let us handle it!

Products & Services

Support & Documentation

Customer Portal
Discussion Forums
Map Suite Code Community
Developer Blog
Product Documentation
Quick Start Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilities & Data
Contact Us

November 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:43:36 GMT

Final Releases: Map Suite Desktop Edition, Silverlight Edition and Routing Extension

Download Your Free Evaluations Here

This month, we're pleased to announce the final releases of Map Suite Desktop Edition, Silverlight Edition and the Routing Extension! Having concluded the public beta for these three products, we're now offering version 3.1 of these popular components for your .NET GIS development needs. Downloads are available immediately from our website.

Each of the final releases delivers one more handful of bug fixes, as well as some additional sample applications and fully updated API documentation. Additionally, the Map Suite Routing Extension adds support for the Travelling Salesman Problem, one of our most often-requested features.

Here's what's new, along with links to the full change logs for your perusal:

Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.1.299
View the Change Log
Includes several bug fixes and some API changes, including several outdated APIs being marked obsolete.

Map Suite Silverlight Edition 3.1.299
View the Change Log
New projection property, new documentation and some minor bug fixes.

Map Suite Routing Extension 3.1.299
View the Change Log
Added support for the Travelling Salesman Problem, plus new sample apps and source code.

How Do I Get the Final Releases?

If you're working with a free evaluation of any product listed above, you can download a free upgrade from our website. If you're a licensed user, visit our Customer Portal, login with your username and password, and download a full edition upgrade.

Very special thanks go out to all the members of our Map Suite developer community, especially those of you who helped us test the beta versions of Map Suite Desktop, Silverlight and Routing. Your feedback and bug reports were instrumental in helping us deliver a polished trio of final releases this month.

Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 Release Candidate
Now Available

Download the Release Candidate Here

The Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 Release Candidate has landed! This stability release includes some minor bug fixes, as well as the addition of new sample applications, in advance of a final release coming soon. Now's your chance to update your Geocoder 3.0 component -- or, if you're new to Map Suite, now is the perfect time to give Geocoder 3.0 a try.

Additionally, we've launched a complete set of online API documentation for Map Suite Geocoder, which will help make your development that much easier.

Here's what's new in the Geocoder 3.0 Release Candidate:

Added a set of Web-based "How Do I?" sample applications.
Fixed a bug in the StreetGeocoderFormalizer.
Posted complete API documentation.

As always, thanks to all of our dedicated developers who have helped us test Map Suite Geocoder (and all of our other Map Suite products) during the public beta phase. Let us know what you think of the Geocoder Release Candidate by posting your comments on our developer blog, or starting a new thread in the Geocoder 3.0 Support Forum.

Code Community Roundup: November 2009

World Sized Image Style

If you haven't checked out the Map Suite Code Community yet, now is a great time to see what it's all about. Make developing with Map Suite even more versatile with this month's new extensions and sample projects -- they'll show you how to do some pretty impressive things. Here's what's new in the Code Community this month:

Chemical Plume

This project will show you how to display chemical plumes and perform spatial analysis on them. This can help you comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation's standards for protection and isolation zones according to the type of chemical involved. You'll see how Map Suite can easily build, display and analyze these zones.

Based on a customer request, this project illustrates how to create an ImageStyle of real-world dimensions, using a cruise ship as an example. When you know the real-world size of an object, you can ensure that it is always displayed on your map at the correct scale, regardless of zoom level.

Rotate Icon

The classic example of rotating an icon would be the illustration of an airplane's flight path, wherein the image of the plane rotates to change its heading as it moves along the path. This project will show you how to duplicate that effect using Map Suite.

Measurements with Decimal Degrees

A lengthy discussion on our developer forums sparked the idea for this project, which shows you how to get area and length measurements according to the projection used from a shape in decimal degrees.

Great Circle on Pacific Rim

This project illustrates how to apply the Offset projection to the Great Circle, which allows you to draw Great Circle paths over the Pacific Rim (i.e., between East Asia and the U.S. west coast) with Map Suite -- unlike Google Maps, where the same path is shown broken down.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Let ThinkGeo Professional Services Build Your Mapping Project

Tell Us About Your Custom GIS Project Here

Do you need to create an application that uses maps, but aren't sure where to begin? ThinkGeo's project design, development, implementation and training services will help you bring your GIS ideas to market quickly and affordably. With years of experience, ThinkGeo's certified developers will work with you to create the perfect GIS solution.

Why Choose ThinkGeo and Map Suite?

Our Staff

ThinkGeo's professional services team is uniquely qualified to offer you a top-quality solution built on our powerful Map Suite GIS software. We have the expertise to produce the results you need on the budget and timetable you require. Our friendly and personable staff is always happy to answer your questions and explore your ideas for the project.

Our Methodology

ThinkGeo is a believer in the agile development methodology, which means that you'll be involved in every step of the process from start to finish. Our iterative-style approach will provide you with weekly status updates, prototypes and progress along the way. As a virtual member of our team, you'll be able to guide the project to meet your exact needs.

Our Products

Map Suite is one of the most innovative and customizable GIS software solutions on the market today. As the developers of Map Suite, we know how to maximize its capabilities and deliver truly impressive spatial applications. Map Suite itself is tremendously scalable and offers a very high performance user experience.

How Do I Get My Project Started?

If you'd like to hear more about what our professional services team can offer you, tell us a bit about the project you want to build. You can use our online form or call us toll-free at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, please dial 1-785-727-4133). We'll get in touch with you within 48 hours to discuss your ideas and how we can help you realize them.

Promote Your Map Suite Application in the
Map Suite App Gallery

Have you used Map Suite to create a stunning application? Share your application with us, and we might feature it in the upcoming Map Suite App Gallery, complete with a link to your website. It's a great way to increase exposure to your product or company and demonstrate the power of Map Suite.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Evaluations Here

This Month: Download the final 3.1 releases of Map Suite Desktop Edition, Silverlight Edition and the Routing Extension, plus Map Suite Geocoder RC1.

October 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:29:48 GMT

Download the New Map Suite Release Candidates and Product Updates

Big news for Map Suite developers this month: We've just posted refreshes of all our major products, including three new release candidates: Map Suite Desktop Edition RC2, Silverlight Edition RC1 and Routing Extension RC1. Additionally, you can get updated versions of Web Edition, Services Edition and Map Suite Geocoder.

The new updates deliver bugfixes and enhancements across the board, and come in advance of our planned final production releases of Desktop Edition, Silverlight Edition and the Routing Extension on November 16th. If you're using any Map Suite product, either a full version or an evaluation, you'll want to update to increase stability and performance of your applications.

Here are all of the Map Suite products that have been updated this month, along with links to the change logs so you can see what's new:

Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0.453 RC2
View the Change Log
Includes a variety of bug fixes and API additions.

Map Suite Web Edition 3.1.273
View the Change Log
Corrects issues with Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox plus other bugfixes.

Map Suite Silverlight Edition 3.0.453 RC1
View the Change Log
Release candidate adds MultiThread support, new sample apps, enhancements and bugfixes.

Map Suite Services Edition 3.1.273
View the Change Log
Many API additions, enhancements and bugfixes throughout.

Map Suite Routing Extension 3.0.453 RC1
View the Change Log
New APIs and samples for routing around roadblocks and updating index files. VB samples are also added.

Map Suite Geocoder 3.0.453 Beta
View the Change Log
Corrects several calculation issues and provides updated formalizers.

How Do I Get the New Releases?

Let us know what you think of the new releases by posting your comments, questions and observations in the Map Suite Discussion Forums. We want to hear from you! (Please make sure to post your topics in the support forum that matches the product you're using.)

Code Community Roundup: October 2009

Heat Map with Earthquakes

Heat Maps

Heat mapping is a technique where variable data is represented by different colors, and is used in many fields like biology, meteorology and even IT. (See the Wikipedia article to learn more.) This project will show you how to add heat mapping to your Map Suite projects.

Building on the Heat Maps sample project, here we apply the technique to map earthquake activity in the United States. This shows you how to apply parameters other than strictly spatial distribution to affect coloring of the map.

Zoom Levels Partitioning

This project shows you how to set intermediate zoom levels between the 20 predefined zoom levels that come built into Map Suite. This gives you more granular control over your application's zooming functionality.

WordWrappedTextStyle

Based on a request from a customer, this project will show you how to implement a TextStyle that supports word wrapping. This custom class can even wrap text according to the size of the bounding box of the feature it's labeling.

Time Line

See how to create a new class called DateBasedStyle, which displays features according to time values. Using a time line based on a track bar, the user can scroll back and forth to see what states were members of the U.S. during any given year in history.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Let ThinkGeo Professional Services Build Your Mapping Project

Tell Us About Your Custom GIS Project Here

Why Choose ThinkGeo and Map Suite?

Our Staff

Our Methodology

Our Products

How Do I Get My Project Started?

Promote Your Map Suite Application in the
Map Suite App Gallery

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Map Suite
Cygnus Track
Custom GIS Services
Buy Now at the ThinkGeo Store

This Month: Try new versions of all our products, including Release Candidates of Map Suite Desktop Edition, Silverlight Edition and the Routing Extension.

In This Issue

Download the New Map Suite Release Candidates and Product Updates
Code Community Roundup: October 2009
Let ThinkGeo Professional Services Build Your Mapping Project
Promote Your Map Suite Application in the Map Suite App Gallery
Free Map Suite Product Downloads

Do you need a custom GIS solution? Don't have the time or the staff to build it yourself? Let us handle it!

Products & Services

Support & Documentation

Customer Portal
Discussion Forums
Map Suite Code Community
Developer Blog
Product Documentation
Quick Start Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilities & Data
Contact Us

September 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:47:33 GMT

See the Performance Difference in Map Suite Desktop Edition Release Candidate 2

Download a Free Evaluation of RC2 Now!

After taking into account all of the feedback we received about the previous release candidate of Map Suite Desktop Edition, we made adjustments that greatly increased performance, fixed reported bugs and made development much easier. Today we're proud to announce Map Suite Desktop Edition Release Candidate 2, which includes changes like:

Significant performance improvements.
Set the default threading mode to single threaded on MapControl.
Turned off the tile caches by default.
Turned off the preview by default.
Exposed the TileCache property on Overlay Class.
Exposed the PreviewTileCache property on Overlay Class.
Added a SessionFileBitmapTileCache.
Additional enhancements and bugfixes. See the changelog for details.
Several API changes. See the API change log for complete details.

Where Do I Get Release Candidate 2?

If you're evaluating Map Suite Desktop Edition, you can download an upgrade to RC2 direct from our website. If you're a licensed user, visit our Customer Portal and download a full edition upgrade.

Let us know what you think of Release Candidate 2 by posting your comments, questions and observations in the Map Suite Desktop Edition Support Forum. We want to hear from you!

Introducing the All-New Map Suite Geocoder 3.0

Download Your Free Evaluation Copy of Beta 1

This month we're pleased to introduce you to Map Suite Geocoder 3.0, our next-generation geocoding and reverse geocoding component for .NET. Have you ever wanted to build a mapping application that works like Google Maps or Bing Maps, where you can enter a street address and return a point? That's what Map Suite Geocoder is all about.

In addition to converting addresses to coordinates and vice-versa, Map Suite Geocoder has been built from the ground up on the Map Suite 3.0 core. That means it's far more versatile, powerful and extensible than any geocoding component we've offered before.

Custom Geocoding with MatchingPlugins

Geocoder 3.0 also introduces the concept of MatchingPlugins that make it easy to add your own geocoding functionality. You can match any kind of data that you want -- for example, do you want to geocode based on telephone area codes? You can write a custom MatchingPlugin that does exactly that. MatchingPlugins can also be combined to achieve some truly amazing results.

Includes U.S. Data

Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 comes with a full set of optimized United States street data, but also offers the ability to expand into other areas with the use of modular add-on datasets. Watch our newsletter for future releases of Geocoder datasets supporting other countries.

Features:

Native .NET geocoding/reverse geocoding component
Streamlined and fully extensible API
Convert addresses to lat/long coordinates and vice versa
Get info like county, elevation, time zone, daylight savings and more
Use fuzzy logic for inexact searches or to overcome typos
Geocoding formalizer parses informal string input for addresses
Full U.S. dataset included
Sample applications with source code
And more!

How To Get It

Free Evaluation Edition
Download a 60-day free trial from our website.
Full Developer License
Purchase today in the ThinkGeo Online Store and get a free upgrade to the final release after the public beta period has ended.
Free upgrade for Map Suite Geocode USA users
If you have a current Software Assurance Plan for Geocode USA, you can download the full version of Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 Beta 1 right now, free of charge, at the Customer Portal.

Getting Started and Finding Help

You can easily learn how to start using Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 with our QuickStart Guide. And if you have questions or need help along the way, visit the Map Suite Geocoder Support Forum, which is continually monitored by ThinkGeo's professional and knowledgeable support team.

If you require confidential one-on-one assistance, you can open a support ticket at the Customer Portal, email support@thinkgeo.com or call us toll-free at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Remember, we're always looking for feedback from our customers! Take Map Suite Geocoder 3.0 for a test drive, then tell us what you think in our official Discussion Forums.

Take Advantage of ThinkGeo's New Data Conversion Services

Contact Us Now About Converting Your Data

ThinkGeo regularly receives requests about converting spatial data and maps between formats and/or projections. This month we're happy to announce a new offering to meet these needs. This service provides our clients with a team of GIS professionals that can quickly convert, translate, transform and integrate hundreds of spatial data formats.

Our approach is simple: Our GIS professional services group will evaluate and analyze your current spatial data and your desired goals. From this evaluation, we'll provide you with a proposal and a path to achieve your goals. Once engaged, we'll work with your staff as needed to collect all of the data and complete the desired conversion or translation. Our team will fully document the processes used so that when you need the service again, we'll save you time and money on the next round of conversions.

The bottom line is, if you have legacy CAD drawings and want to leverage them into your GIS solutions, or if you have a need to take multiple data sources and move them into a common dataset or format, ThinkGeo can help. Contact us today about this exciting new service.

Code Community Roundup: September 2009

Multi Column Labeling

The Map Suite Code Community continues to grow! Visit the site today to see what all the talk is about and get a sample of the cool features, ideas and extensions you can add to your Map Suite applications. This month, we've put together a roundup of the latest projects available in the Code Community.

In this project we'll demonstrate some techniques to label features based on various columns. With the CustomStyles property and CustomColumnFetch event, you will see the flexibility you have to label the way you desire in a few lines of code. In this example, we label volcanoes based on four columns on two lines of text, using two different font styles.

Multi Ring Buffering

This project shows you how to create a multi ring buffer on shapes, in this case MultilineShapes from a line-based layer like a road. From buffering the road at various distances, we create concentric rings. From there, we can determine how many features on the point-based layer (schools, in this example) are in each ring.

ClusterPointStyle

Sometimes your map may have many features stacked on top of each other at high zoom levels, making the map too busy and difficult to read. Clustering is a useful technique that will help make the map more readable. It groups together various features into one symbol with the count of all the features being labeled.

Spatial Join

This project shows you how to perform a Spatial Join on a Point layer that's based on a Polygon layer. It adds the relevant info to the Point layer based on the spatial characteristics of the features of the Point layer in comparison to the Polygon layer.

ScalingTextStyle

This project shows you how to create a style, inherited from TextStyle, that sizes a text label according to the scale of the map. The logic is similar to that which we explored in the ScalingImageStyle project, but here we apply it to the TextStyle.

Promote Your Map Suite Application in the
Map Suite App Gallery

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Evaluation Copy of Beta 1!

This Month: Try Beta 1 of the All-New Map Suite Geocoder 3.0, and Release Candidate 2 of Map Suite Desktop Edition.

August 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:19:33 GMT

Introducing the Map Suite Routing Extension:
Routing and Directions for Map Suite

We're excited to announce the initial beta release of Map Suite Routing, the all new add-on for Map Suite that can plot routes, provide turn-by-turn directions and get your users from A to B with incredible ease. If you're using Map Suite Desktop, Web, Silverlight or Services Edition, choose Map Suite Routing as a quick and easy way to add popular routing features to your apps!

Perhaps best of all, the simple and extensible development you've come to know and love with Map Suite is present and accounted for in Map Suite Routing. It's never been this easy to generate routes, avoid areas, add waypoints or even implement your own routing algorithms and data sources.

Click here to get your free 60-day trial of Map Suite Routing Beta 1 and let your Map Suite apps start taking you places.

Features:

Native .NET add-on component for Map Suite
Route by shortest distance or shortest travel time
Algorithms include Dijkstra, A* and Bidirectional, or write your own
Add mid-route waypoints anywhere on the map
Draw areas to avoid
Get turn-by-turn directions
Calculate effective service areas based on speed and distance
Route ShapeFiles, MS SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL or your own dataset
And lots more!

Watch the Video Intro

Presented by Map Suite Chief Architect David Rehagen, the video introduction to the Map Suite Routing Extension will take you on a tour of the product, show you what it can do and get hands-on with the source code behind the bundled sample applications.

Watch the Map Suite Routing Overview Video

How To Get Map Suite Routing

A free, fully-functional evaluation is available for immediate download from our website. To purchase a developer license for Map Suite Routing, visit our online store. Production Web server licenses for projects using Map Suite Routing are also available separately and can be purchased in our store.

Important Note: Either an evaluation or a fully licensed copy of Map Suite Desktop, Web, Silverlight or Services Edition 3.0 is required to use Map Suite Routing.

Getting Started and Finding Help

Learn how to start using Map Suite Routing fast with our QuickStart Guide. And if you have questions or need help along the way, visit the Map Suite Routing Support Forum, which is continually monitored by ThinkGeo's professional and knowledgeable support team.

If you require confidential one-on-one assistance, you can open a support ticket at the ThinkGeo Customer Portal, email support@thinkgeo.com or call us toll-free at 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Remember, we're always looking for feedback from our customers! Give Map Suite Routing a try and then tell us what you think in our Discussion Forums.

Share and Discover Map Suite Extensions at the All-New Code Community

Download a Free Evaluation of Beta 3 Here

As the popularity of customer-inspired Map Suite add-ons like the PDF Extension and the FleeBooleanStyle continues to grow, ThinkGeo is proud to announce the launch of the Map Suite Code Community, a new online destination for developers to share and discover new extensions for Map Suite.

In addition to all of the popular extensions we've already posted to our popular Developer Blog, we're adding new extensions, styles and projects to the Code Community every day. Drop by today and check out the Dynamic Segmentation project, see how to add a rotating North Arrow to your maps, and so much more.

Show Off Your Own Projects

Now you can use the Code Community as a way to showcase your own custom-developed extensions for Map Suite. Do you have a great idea for a Map Suite add-on that will save developers time or add a useful feature? Tell us about it and we'll set you up with your very own space on the Code Community, complete with its own issue tracking, wiki, discussion forums, source code repository and member roles.

Send Us Your Feedback

We created the Map Suite Code Community site based on feedback from customers like you, and your feedback will shape its future direction. If you have constructive suggestions or comments we would love to hear them. While we cannot always act on every suggestion, we will record and review them as part of our continuous improvement process.

Map Suite Silverlight Edition Beta 3 Available Now

We've just issued the next beta refresh of Map Suite Silverlight Edition, which brings a vast array of new features, an enhanced API, and more. Most importantly, Silverlight Edition now requires the Microsoft Silverlight™ 3.0 development environment, so make sure to update your Visual Studio Silverlight Tools.

What Else is New in Beta 3?

Map Suite Silverlight Edition Beta 3 re-introduces support for InteractiveOverlays, so you can add editable map shapes and other rich, interactive objects to your mapping applications. We've also added support for GoogleOverlays so you can display maps from Google in your project (third-party licensing may apply).

We've also bundled some new sample applications, and polished everything off with a variety of bug fixes and performance improvements. For a complete list of changes, check out the change log.

Where Do I Get Beta 3?

If you're new to Map Suite Silverlight Edition, you can download your free evaluation edition direct from our website. If you're a licensed user, visit our Customer Portal and download a full edition upgrade.

Don't forget to update your Silverlight development environment to version 3.0!

If you have questions or need assistance upgrading to the latest version, feel free to post on our active Silverlight Edition Support Forum.

Promote Your Map Suite Application in the
Map Suite App Gallery

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download the Latest Map Suite Evaluations

This Month: Try Beta 1 of the All-New Map Suite Routing Extension, and Beta 3 of Map Suite Silverlight Edition.

July 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:11:34 GMT

Support Dozens of New Data Formats with the Free Map Suite FDO Extension

This month's maintenance refreshes of Map Suite Desktop, Web and Services Editions come with an extra bonus built-in: The Map Suite FDO Extension. This extension makes it easy to leverage the open source FDO, OGR and GDAL libraries to support dozens of new formats for both vector and raster data. Now you can work with datatypes like S-57, MapInfo TAB, ESRI Geodatabases and lots more.

The FDO Extension makes working with a variety of data in your Map Suite applications easier than ever before. And we've made getting started with the FDO Extension easy, too, with a 30-minute introductory video and a downloadable package of sample applications you can use to jump-start your development.

Downloads:

Important Note: You need to download the latest release of your Map Suite GIS component (either Desktop Edition, Web Edition or Services Edition) for the FDO sample applications above to work.

Where Do I Get the FDO Extension?

The FDO Extension comes bundled with all Map Suite Desktop, Web and Services Edition downloads released after July 22, 2009. Simply download the latest version of the Map Suite edition you're working with, then watch the Introductory Video to find out how to start using the new data formats.

Not sure where to get the latest version of Map Suite? Click here to download the latest evaluation edition, or visit the ThinkGeo Customer Portal for the latest licensed edition.

If you have questions or need assistance with the new FDO Extension, feel free to post on the support forum for the Map Suite edition you're using, email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Map Suite Maintenance Releases: July 23, 2009

Keep your Map Suite development running smoothly by updating to the latest maintenance release of Map Suite Desktop, Web and Services Edition, available for download now. The latest release of each edition includes various bugfixes, stability and performance improvements.

Not sure where to get the latest version of Map Suite? Click here to download the latest evaluation edition, or visit the ThinkGeo Customer Portal for the latest licensed edition.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Visit the Map Suite Community Discussion Forums

July 2009: Download the new 3.0 maintenance release of Map Suite Desktop, Web and Services Editions now!

June 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:59 GMT

Map Suite Community Spotlight: June, 2009

The Map Suite Developer Community forums are a great place to discover new ways to use your Map Suite GIS software. This month, we'll take a look at some of the most popular topics on the forums, some of which show you how to extend Map Suite in ways you may not have thought possible!

From exciting new extensions to tutorials on adding popular functionality to your GIS application, the forums are always filled with great ideas that you can use in your next Map Suite project. Here are some of the topics that you may find interesting this month:

Map Suite PDF Extension: Print Your Maps to a Vector PDF

Now you can convert the Map Suite map you see on your screen into a detailed, vector-based PDF. The PDF Extension is available as an open beta for customers to try in their own projects. You can also join the discussion and let us know what you'd like to see as development continues.

Create Complex Expression Styles with the FleeBooleanStyle

Inspired by the requirements of a Map Suite customer, the FleeBooleanStyle extension gives you powerful and unprecedented control over your map styles. It evaluates complex expressions from FeatureSource column data and combines them with your own custom variables. Based on the Flee (Fast Lightweight Expression Evaluator) package.

Display the Pacific Rim with a World ShapeFile

If you need your Map Suite application to display the Pacific Rim and Asia if you pan to the west (so that the world "wraps around"), this is the article for you. Illustrations, example code and a sample project will help you add this often-requested feature to your project.

MultiGeoTiffLayer: Work with Thousands of GeoTIFFs

This new add-on class was inspired by a Map Suite customer who needed to work with thousands of GeoTIFFs efficiently. The new class allows us to build an index of all the GeoTIFF files we have and then read that index when we open a layer. Both C# and VB sample code are provided.

Create a Donut Point Style

Inspired by a customer request, these new DonutPointStyles allow you to draw a hollow circle (or "donut") to represent a point on your map. Two styles are provided: a general style suitable for any GeoCanvas, and a GDI+ specific style. Sample code is provided for each.

Watch For More Great Ideas From ThinkGeo...

We're working on some new and exciting ways for Map Suite developers to share their ideas for extensions and enhancements to Map Suite in our ever-growing community. Stay tuned to future issues of the ThinkGeo GIS newsletter — and to our website — for updates.

Also, be sure to subscribe to our News and Announcements Forum to get the latest Map Suite news delivered as it breaks!

Video: Map Suite Desktop Edition RC1 Overview

Because a lot has changed in Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 RC1, Chief Architect David Rehagen put together a 60-minute overview video to help explain the new features, changes and enhancements. If you have questions about the Desktop Edition Release Candidate, this in-depth video should be enlightening.

Watch the Desktop Edition RC1 Overview Video Now

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download the Latest Evaluation Editions Now

May 2009 - ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter

ThinkGeo — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:10:16 GMT

Just Released: Updated Map Suite 3.x Products Are Available Now

It's an exciting day for Map Suite developers! We've just released new versions of all four GIS controls in the Map Suite 3.x family, bringing you the features, enhancements and bug fixes that you asked for. If you haven't seen what's new in the latest versions of Map Suite yet, you're going to be impressed.

In addition to milestone updates for Map Suite Web Edition and Services Edition, we're pleased to announce that Desktop Edition has reached Release Candidate status, with a final release imminent. Silverlight Edition Beta 2 is also now available, and adds many new features and performance enhancements that were requested in our Developer Community Forums.

What's New with Map Suite?

Here are some of the new things you'll find in our latest releases:

Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0.304 Release Candidate

Includes many bug fixes, plus the addition of an Events system, continuous panning for WPF, a customizable mouseMode for the map, freehand drawing mode for shapes, new APIs and properties, and lots more.

Download Evaluation | API Change Log | Complete Features Change Log

Map Suite Silverlight Edition 3.0.304 Beta 2

Includes a replacement for the Microsoft Deep Zoom control, smooth zooming, faster performance, API improvements, support for Value Style and Class Break renderers, GoogleOverlay support, and lots more.

Download Evaluation | API Change Log | Complete Features Change Log

Map Suite Web Edition 3.1.124

Includes various bug fixes, optimized client printing and shape drawing, support for the ASP.NET MVC Framework, support for Web Feature Service (WFS), optimized multi-language support, and lots more.

Download Evaluation | API Change Log | Complete Features Change Log

Map Suite Services Edition 3.1.124

Includes many bug fixes, plus support for ExecuteQuery in PostgreSQL, polygon and line simplification for AreaShapes and LineShapes, DPI support for GeoCanvas, several new APIs and overloads, and lots more.

Download Evaluation | API Change Log | Complete Features Change Log

Where Do I Get the New Versions?

If you're new to Map Suite, you can download your free evaluation edition direct from our website. If you're a licensed Map Suite user with a current Software Assurance Plan, visit our Customer Portal and download a full edition upgrade.

If you have questions or need assistance upgrading to the latest version, feel free to post on our active Developer Community Forums. There's a dedicated support forum for each Map Suite product:

If you still need help, email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Don't forget to subscribe to our News and Announcements forum to get immediate notification whenever there's a new release of Map Suite!

Download the "Exploring Layers with Map Suite" Webinar Video & Source Code

Thanks to everyone who attended the "Exploring Layers with Map Suite" webinar on May 13th! Map Suite Chief Architect David Rehagen demonstrated some of the many ways you can extend the Layer and RasterLayer classes for near-infinite possibilities. There was also an informative question and answer session held at the close of the presentation.

In case you missed the webinar, or would like to share it with your friends and colleagues, you can download a video recording of the presentation. We've also provided the presentation slides (in PDF format), a transcript of the Q&A session held at the end of the webinar, and a sample project you can use to help you quickly start working with Layers in Map Suite.

(Please note: The sample project requires either the evaluation or full version of Map Suite Desktop, Web, Silverlight or Services Edition 3.0.)

Downloads:

Would you be interested in seeing more Webinars from ThinkGeo? If so, post a comment on our Developer Blog and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover. Would you like to attend an in-depth, developer-oriented session? Or perhaps you'd prefer to see more examples of what Map Suite can do for you. Whatever your preference, post your comments or email us at sales@thinkgeo.com.

We look forward to seeing you next time!

Tech Tips – Tips for Map Suite Developers

Extend Your Map Suite Development with our Tech Blogs

If you haven't visited ThinkGeo's Map Suite Developer Blog lately, you've been missing out. Some of ThinkGeo's key Map Suite developers recently posted some new technical articles that will help you get even more out of your Map Suite solution. Check out the following articles for more detail:

Sample Code: MultiGeoTiffLayer
A new layer that can efficiently handle working with hundreds or thousands of GeoTiffs.
Sample Code: Writing a Donut Point Style
Learn how to draw a donut (two concentric circles with a transparent interior) to represent a point.
Sneak Preview: PDF Extension (Updated)
Ongoing discussion about our upcoming Map Suite PDF extension, which converts your map into a vector-based PDF. Now updated to revision 3.

Don't forget, you can subscribe to the Map Suite Developer Blog to stay up-to-date on tech tips, inside information and other great ideas for Map Suite developers.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Evaluation Copy Now

May 2009: Updated versions of all Map Suite 3.x products are available now!

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - April 2009

ThinkGeo — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:40:04 GMT

Map Suite Silverlight Edition Beta 1 Is Here!

ThinkGeo is proud to announce the initial beta release of Map Suite Silverlight Edition, the newest addition to our Map Suite family of professional GIS software! For developers seeking to create visually rich, multiplatform GIS applications with Microsoft Silverlight, Map Suite Silverlight Edition GIS control provides a powerful yet easy-to-use solution.

Unlike scaled-down GIS software for Silverlight, Map Suite Silverlight Edition is a full-featured GIS control with the same power and flexibility of ThinkGeo's other Map Suite products. Developers can use it to add maps with advanced functionality like spatial queries, interactive shape drawing and editing, point animation, distance calculations, rich tooltips and markers, projections & more.

Get Started with Silverlight

Before you download the free evaluation and start working with Silverlight Edition Beta 1, make sure you have the following:

Visual Studio 2008 with Service Pack 1
Microsoft Silverlight 2 Tools for Visual Studio 2008

Then, check out our illustrated QuickStart Guide for a full primer on developing with Map Suite Silverlight Edition. It'll have you up and running in no time.

Your Questions Answered

Have questions or comments about Map Suite Silverlight Edition? Post them in our official support forum. Our Map Suite development team is ready and waiting to answer your questions and help you solve any issues you may have.

Additionally, we're looking for your feedback on how we can continually improve Map Suite Silverlight Edition and what features you want to see in the next beta. Post your ideas on our forums!

Introductory Pricing for a Limited Time

Buy the full version of Map Suite Silverlight Edition and save over $1,000 off the full retail price — for a limited time only! Your purchase also entitles you to a free upgrade to the final release of the product, and in the meantime, you'll be able to develop and deploy full applications with the beta version. Click here to buy now.

Support is Ready to Assist You

To stay on top of the newest releases, subscribe to our News and Announcements forum for instant email notification whenever there's a new product or version of Map Suite available.

If you have questions or need assistance with Silverlight Edition, feel free to post on our support forum, email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

New Webinar: Your Personal Introduction to Map Suite Silverlight Edition

Click Here to Register For the Free Webinar

Now that Map Suite Silverlight Edition Beta 1 is available for you to try, you can get the advantage of a personal introduction to the software by attending our free webinar on Wednesday, April 29th. Want a demonstration of Silverlight Edition's features? Need to know if it's the GIS control for you? This is your event!

About the Webinar

The Introduction to Map Suite Silverlight Edition webinar will provide:

An overview of Map Suite Silverlight Edition
A demonstration of the product's features and capabilities
An opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for programmers, project managers and anyone interested in combining GIS and Silverlight technology. It will be a high-level overview of Map Suite Silverlight Edition that will give you an opportunity to discover everything the product has in store.

Details and Registration

Introduction to Map Suite Silverlight Edition
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time (GMT-0500)

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/220018291

Questions and Further Information

To learn more about Map Suite Silverlight Edition, check out our website, or join the discussion in our Silverlight Edition forum!

If you have questions about Map Suite or the Custom Styles webinar, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Subscribe to Our News & Annnouncements Forum to Stay Up-To-Date

Map Suite Silverlight Edition Beta 1 is available for download now!

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - March 2009

ThinkGeo — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:40:30 GMT

Download the "Extending Map Suite: Creating Custom Styles" Webinar Video & Source Code

Thanks to everyone who attended the "Extending Map Suite: Creating Custom Styles" webinar on March 11th! In case you missed this in-depth technical discussion with ThinkGeo Map Suite guru David Rehagen, you can download a video recording of the presentation, as well as a sample project (in both C# and VB.NET) that will help you start creating your own Styles quickly.

This presentation will introduce you to the limitless possibilities offered by Map Suite's custom style capability, show you how the Style class works and how it fits into the Map Suite framework. We've also made the Q&A transcript available for download, as well as the PowerPoint slides, so you can follow along.

Downloads:

We look forward to seeing you next time!

Map Suite Silverlight Edition Is Almost Here!

The newest addition to the Map Suite Product line, Map Suite Silverlight Edition, has almost arrived. Beta 1 of Silverlight Edition will be available in early April, and will be the first product to merge the power of Map Suite GIS with the rich user interfaces of Microsoft Silverlight.

If you'd like to be notified as soon as Silverlight Edition Beta 1 is available, subscribe to our News and Announcements forum. You'll receive an email the instant Beta 1 can be downloaded!

To subscribe, visit the News and Announcements forum and check the box labeled "Click to subscribe to this forum" (it's right above the "Add New Topic" button). That's all there is to it.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Click Here to Register For the Free Webinar

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - February 2009

ThinkGeo — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:41:42 GMT

Extending Map Suite: Creating Custom Styles

Join us for the Free Webinar on March 11th, 2009

One of the great new features in Map Suite 3.0 is the ability to create your own custom styles to get the exact look and feel you want for your maps. If you'd like to learn how easy it is to design your own custom styles, our free webinar on March 11th will tell you everything you need to know to make them work for you!

About The Webinar

The Custom Styles webinar will provide:

An overview of the Style class and its role in the framework
A demonstration of various custom styles you can create for infinite possibilities
An opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more

David Rehagen, Chief Architect of the Map Suite development team, will be delivering the in-depth presentation on custom styles, including sample code that you can download after the webinar and use as a springboard to speed your own style development.

Who Should Attend

This will be an advanced technical presentation that is applicable to all editions of Map Suite 3.0, and is intended for programmers. Project managers can also find value in seeing what extensibility is available and what's possible with Map Suite.

Details and Registration

Extending Map Suite: Creating Custom Styles
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time (GMT-0500)

Please Note:
Because Daylight Saving Time begins in the United States on March 8th, our local time zone will be equivalent to GMT-0500 at the time of the webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/369677272

Questions and Further Information

To learn more about Map Suite, take a look at our feature videos to get a feel for all the functionality Map Suite offers the GIS developer.

If you have questions about Map Suite or the Custom Styles webinar, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Tech Tips – Tips for Map Suite Developers

Extend Your Map Suite Development with our Tech Blogs

If you haven't visited ThinkGeo's Map Suite Developer Blog lately, you've been missing out. Map Suite Chief Architect David Rehagen recently posted several new technical articles that will help you get even more out of your Map Suite solution. Check out the following articles for more detail:

Sneak Preview: PDF Extension
Try out our upcoming Map Suite PDF extension, which converts your map into a vector-based PDF.
Sample Code: Dictionary Value Style
A new way to vastly improve performance when dealing with thousands of ValueItem objects.
Sample Code: Cached Value Style
Get even more performance from your Dictionary Value Style by pre-caching the column values for each feature.
Sample Code: Indexed InMemoryFeatureLayer
See how to use an in-memory R-Tree index to speed up query times when dealing with tens of thousands of objects.

Don't forget, you can subscribe to the Map Suite Developer Blog to stay up-to-date on tech tips, inside information and other great ideas for Map Suite developers!

Map Suite Users: Get the Latest Enhancements

If you're working with Map Suite Web, Services or Desktop Edition 3.0, you might want to take advantage of this month's refreshes that deliver bug fixes and enhanced functionality. Users of all editions can benefit from the updated APIs, and Web Edition users will also enjoy the new draggable markers feature. You can update to the latest version of Map Suite 3.0 online at the following locations:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

Want to know what's new in the latest editions? Check out the following change logs in our Developer Community:

If you have questions or need assistance upgrading to the latest version, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Don't forget to subscribe to our News and Announcements forum to get immediate notification whenever there's a new release of Map Suite!

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Evaluation Copy Now

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - January 2009

ThinkGeo — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:28:31 GMT

Final Release: Map Suite Web Edition 3.1 and Services Edition 3.1 Are Here!

Beta testing is concluded! The final release versions of Map Suite Web Edition and Services Edition have arrived. Packed with enhancements, bug fixes and improvements influenced by our developer community, these hot new releases are a must-have upgrade for any .NET GIS developer pr current Map Suite user.

What's New in Web Edition 3.1

X64 OS support
Support for session serialization
Support for a client zoomlevels setting mechanism
Support for changing a shape's style when editing
Improved shape edit settings
Improved APIs
Numerous bugs fixed

For a complete list of improvements, check out the Map Suite Web Edition Features Change Log and API Change Log.

What's New in Services Edition 3.1

MrSid support in 64-bit environments
New API for getting features based on the value in a column
Enhanced projection classes and members
Faster performance for GdiPlusRasterLayer, Proj4Projection and certain spatial queries
Improved exception messages
Improved documentation
Numerous bugs fixed

For a complete list of improvements, check out the Map Suite Services Edition Features Change Log and API Change Log.

How Do I Get the New Versions?

To get the latest version of your Map Suite product, visit one of the following links:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

And to always stay on top of the newest releases, subscribe to our News and Announcements forum for instant email notification whenever there's a new version of Map Suite available.

Map Suite Desktop Edition Beta 2 Arrives

See What's New in Version 3.0.180 Beta 2

Users of Map Suite Desktop Edition get some good news of their own this month, with our release of Beta 2 of the product. The second beta introduces a whole host of features that were previously unimplemented, including track shapes and client editing. We've also fixed a number of bugs and improved several APIs.

Major enhancements in the second beta of Desktop Edition 3.0 include:

VB.NET Winforms sample applications
Dynamic panning
Tiling and local cache system
UI threading
Track shapes
Support for client editing
Numerous bug fixes
Lots more!

For a complete list of improvements, check out the Map Suite Desktop Edition Features Change Log and API Change Log.

How Do I Get the New Beta?

To get Beta 2 of Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0, visit one of the following links:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

And don't forget that you can post your questions, comments and experiences in the Map Suite Desktop Edition support forum. ThinkGeo's professional support team is ready to help you create the next-generation GIS solution your business demands. Our developer community is open 24/7/365!

New Videos: Map Suite Feature Showcase

Watch Videos Highlighting Map Suite's Feature Set

Dive into Map Suite's powerful array of spatial features with our new Feature Video Series. These high-level, easy-to-understand videos will show you visual examples of how Map Suite's most popular features can be put to use. For anyone who's still on the fence about Map Suite, check these out!

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

See All the Latest Additions to the Community

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - December 2008

ThinkGeo — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:39:23 GMT

Join the New ThinkGeo Developer Community

Even if you already know about ThinkGeo's thriving community for Map Suite developers, what you may not have realized is that our community has just become an even better place to exchange ideas about Map Suite development and get the latest news, as it breaks, from the Map Suite world. Here's what's new:

New Forums, New Information

In addition to our product-specific support forums, we've added some new forums dedicated to technical articles, tutorials and the latest news from ThinkGeo that affects your GIS development.

News and Announcements

Looking for product releases? Want to know what's new in the latest version of Map Suite? Subscribe to this forum and never miss a beat.

Map Suite 3.0 White Papers (2.0 White Papers Also Available)

In-depth tutorials and documentation on Map Suite and GIS technologies, focusing on popular and often-requested features and techniques.

ThinkGeo Developer Blog

Offering insight, tips and discussion about Map Suite and GIS concepts. You'll find sample code, resources, webinars and lots more.

We've also consolidated lots of familiar content that you previously could find elsewhere. The Developer Community is now home to our Map Suite QuickStart Guides, product change logs and even this newsletter! You can even leave your comments on our articles, blog entries and newsletter issues.

Easier Developer-to-Developer Discussion

Recognizing that great developer-to-developer interaction is key for a thriving community forum, we've relaxed the moderation throughout the ThinkGeo Developer Community. Now, as long as you have one moderator-approved post in any forum, you'll be able to post new topics or replies as much as you like, without the wait!

You can share your thoughts and ideas instantly with other developers, and offer advice to those who need help with their Map Suite project. Remember to abide by our Posting Rules & Guidelines, and please use the appropriate code tags when posting source code! (This quick tutorial will show you how.)

How Do I Subscribe to a Forum?

It's easy to stay in-the-know. First, make sure you're logged in to the forums with your username and password. Then, enter the forum you want to subscribe to and check the subscription box above the list of posts:

You'll then receive email notification any time a new post is added to that forum. If you ever decide to unsubscribe, just come back to the forum and uncheck the box. You can also click "My Profile" and then the "My Preferences" tab to set what kind of notification you prefer: Instant, Daily Digest or Weekly Digest.

Catch Up: Intro to Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 Webinar Video, Q&A

See What You Missed - Get the Video and Q&A

Couldn't make it to last week's Intro to Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 webinar? No problem! Download the video recording and Q&A transcript, and it'll be just like being there. If you're curious what's new in Desktop Edition 3.0, or are looking for a Winforms or WPF mapping solution, this is a great introduction to what Map Suite can do.

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About the Webinar

Clint Batman, President and CEO of ThinkGeo, and Map Suite Development Team Lead David Rehagen hosted this informative first-look at Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0. In addition to demonstrating the new features of the product, the Q&A session answered a variety of your most popular questions about Desktop Edition's technical capabilities, upgrading from Map Suite Desktop 2.0, and the upcoming final release date.

Map Suite 3.0 Beta Users: Are You Working With the Latest Version?

We recently released Map Suite Desktop, Web and Services Edition Beta 3.0.131, featuring a variety of API enhancements and bug fixes. For a complete list of what changed, have a look at our comprehensive change logs in the all-new ThinkGeo Developer Community Forums:

Desktop Edition 3.0.131	API changes	Bug Fixes & Enhancements
Web Edition 3.0.131	API changes	Bug Fixes & Enhancements
Services Edition 3.0.131	API changes	Bug Fixes & Enhancements

To get the latest version of your Map Suite product, visit one of the following links:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

And to always stay on top of the newest releases, subscribe to our News and Announcements forum for instant email notification whenever there's a new version of Map Suite available. Check out our lead story in this issue of the ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter for details on how to subscribe.

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Trial of Desktop Edition 3.0

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - November 2008

ThinkGeo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:11:00 GMT

It's Here: Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 Beta 1

The wait is over. ThinkGeo is excited to announce the release of Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 Beta 1, the next generation of our .NET native GIS control for Windows development. Now supporting WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) as well as Winforms, Desktop Edition 3.0 delivers the high-fidelity user experience your audience is demanding.

Exciting New Features

In addition to the new WPF control, Desktop Edition 3.0 Beta 1 brings a host of other upgrades and enhancements to the Windows platform. Leverage GDI+ and WPF drawing for rich visuals, drag-and-drop panning and scroll wheel zooming, WMS support, ZedGraph for powerful charting and graphing, and lots more. Desktop Edition 3.0 is also more customizable than ever, letting you integrate your own custom data formats and giving you full control over low-level classes.

Other features in Beta 1 include:

Dynamic Refreshing
Mouse Wheel Zooming
Full Editing Transaction System
Spatial Querying & Operations
Thousands of Supported Projections
Advanced Drawing Pens & Brushes
Core Feature Layers (Shapefile, MS SQL 2008, Oracle Spatial, Postgre, etc.)
Dozens of Sample Applications with C# Source Code
An Easy-to-Follow QuickStart Guide
And Lots, Lots More

Limitations in the Initial Beta

A number of features didn't make it into this beta so that we could deliver you the next-generation desktop GIS experience as quickly as possible. Over the coming weeks, we'll be releasing new betas of Desktop Edition 3.0 that include additional features and functionality. A detailed list of the features that are (and are not) available to you in this beta can be found in our Developer Community, in the just-opened News & Announcements section.

How To Get It

Evaluators and new users can download a free 60-day evaluation.
Existing customers can download the full version from the Customer Portal.

What If I Need Help with Desktop Edition 3.0?

If you want to know how to do something with the new Desktop Edition, chances are the bundled sample applications can show you the way. They include dozens of different demonstrations of key features with source code in C#. We've also written a new QuickStart Guide that will walk you through the development of your first map. Our full range of support options includes:

Contact support by email at support@thinkgeo.com, or by phone at:

1-866-847-7510 (Toll-free inside North America)
1-785-727-4133 (International)

Get a Head Start: Desktop Edition 3.0 Webinar

Register for the FREE Webinar Now!

Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 Beta 1 has arrived, and what better way to get acquainted with the new features in version 3.0 than a free webinar? Get a personal introduction to the most exciting new product in ThinkGeo's lineup. All you need is an Internet connection and a PC or Mac to join in!

Introduction to Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time (GMT-0600)

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/762444220

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Map Suite Web & Services Edition Beta Users:
Get the Latest Bugfixes and Enhancements

If you're working with Map Suite Web or Services Edition 3.0 Beta 1, we're pleased to report that Beta 2 has arrived! Our development team has just released a major beta refresh that includes some enhancements and bugfixes that you may find valuable. You can update to the latest beta version of Map Suite 3.0 online at the following locations:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

Want to know what's new in the latest beta of Web and Services Editions? Check out the detailed announcement in our Developer Community that outlines the new features, API changes and bugfixes.

If you have questions or need assistance upgrading to the latest version, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Don't forget to regularly check our Map Suite 3.0 Roadmap for the latest news on beta refreshes, plus the newly-released Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 and the upcoming Silverlight Edition!

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Space is Limited - Click Here to Register Now

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - October 2008

ThinkGeo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:01:05 GMT

Learn How to Extend Map Suite at our Free Webinar
on October 29th

You asked for a webinar that would help you get the most from your Map Suite application, and we've responded! Join us on October 29th for the Learn How To Extend Map Suite free webinar, where we'll introduce some of the ways you can extend the functionality of your Map Suite application.

Webinar topics will include integrating your own data sources, adding customizations to suit your needs, and lots more. We'll also be taking your questions, so if there's something in particular you want to know about making Map Suite really work for you, come let us know. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection!

Learn How To Extend Map Suite
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/183328732

If you have questions about the topics we'll be covering, or if you'd like to suggest your own topics for discussion, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133). We'll see you at the webinar!

Map Suite Tech Tip

Creating a ShapeFile Programmatically with Map Suite 3.0

In this month's Tech Tip, we'll show you how to programmatically create a point-based ShapeFile with two records. A ShapeFile is actually a series of files, which includes .shp, .shx and .dbf (the basic components), as well as .idx and .ids files (index files used by Map Suite to speed up querying of records).

Using only a snippet of code in Visual Studio, you can create a ShapeFile from scratch. The code below will create a ShapeFile that has two points:


private void btnCreateShapeFiles_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
   {
       // The following code creates a new shape file, including the corresponding shx and dbf.
       // There is one column "Name" in the dbf header initially.
       DbfColumn nameColumn = new DbfColumn("Name", DbfColumnType.String, 20, 0);
       ShapeFileFeatureSource.CreateShapeFile(ShapeFileType.Point, @"c:\city.shp", new DbfColumn[] { nameColumn});
       // Generate the index files, which will greatly speed up the records querying
       ShapeFileFeatureSource.BuildIndexFile(@"c:\city.shp");

       // Prepare to add features to the blank shape file just created.
       ShapeFileFeatureSource cityShapeFeatureSource = new ShapeFileFeatureSource(@"c:\city.shp", ShapeFileReadWriteMode.ReadWrite);
       cityShapeFeatureSource.Open();
       cityShapeFeatureSource.BeginTransaction();

       // Add feature "lawrence"
       Dictionary lawrenceColumns = new Dictionary();
       lawrenceColumns.Add("Name", "Lawrence");
       Feature lawrence = new Feature(new PointShape(-95.25, 38.96), lawrenceColumns);
       cityShapeFeatureSource.AddFeature(lawrence);

       // Add a new column even the dbf already has data included.
       // It will be a low efficiency operation to add a new column when we already have data in it. 
       // We strongly suggest to create every column at the very beginning in ShapeFileFeatureSource.CreateShapeFile()
       cityShapeFeatureSource.AddColumnInteger("Population", 10);

       // Set the value for the existing feature.
       lawrence.ColumnValues.Add("Population", "88664");

       // Add another feature "Naples"
       Dictionary naplesColumns = new Dictionary();
       naplesColumns.Add("Name", "Naples");
       naplesColumns.Add("Population", "314649");
       cityShapeFeatureSource.AddFeature(new Feature(new PointShape(-81.798, 26.152), naplesColumns));

       // Close the Transaction and close the shape file
       cityShapeFeatureSource.CommitTransaction();
       cityShapeFeatureSource.Close();
   }

And this is the result:

Use this new-found knowledge to create your own ShapeFiles from your data, and start working with that data visually using Map Suite GIS software!

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Map Suite
Cygnus Track
Custom GIS Services
Buy Now at the ThinkGeo Store

In This Issue

Learn How to Extend Map Suite at our Free Webinar on October 29th
Tech Tip: Creating a ShapeFile Programmatically with Map Suite 3.0
Free Map Suite Product Downloads

Products & Services

Support & Documentation

Customer Portal
ThinkGeo Blog
Discussion Forums
Product Documentation
Quick Start Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilities & Data
Contact Us

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - September 2008

ThinkGeo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:59:24 GMT

Introducing the Map Suite World Map Kit Beta

Beautiful Maps Are Just a Few Clicks Away

Map Suite 3.0 developers now have an exciting new way to instantly add gorgeous maps of the world to their applications. How? With the all-new Map Suite World Map Kit Beta, a complete data and rendering plugin for Map Suite Desktop, Web, Services or Silverlight Edition 3.0. With the World Map Kit, you can deliver professional-looking maps without all the work!

What Does the World Map Kit Do For Me?

The Map Suite World Map Kit includes a complete dataset of the world, featuring street-level detail throughout the United States and Canada, plus major road detail elsewhere. In addition, it comes bundled with pre-built rendering classes that take all the hard work out of designing beautiful maps. Visual details, iconography and zoom levels have all been meticulously designed for you. Just add a few lines of code to your Map Suite application, and you're ready to go!

What Tools Come With the World Map Kit?

The World Map Kit includes everything you need to get started right out of the box:

VB.NET and C# sample applications
18GB of optimized map data files covering the entire globe
Source code for the rendering class to control the zoom levels, colors, and other rendering techniques for the map dataset
Software Assurance Plan that includes support & map updates for 1 year.

Integrating the World Map Kit into your Map Suite application is a simple process that typically takes 30 minutes or less.

Designed For Use with Map Suite 3.0

To use the World Map Kit, you'll need to be running either a full or trial version of a Map Suite 3.0 GIS component. Qualifying products include Map Suite Web Edition 3.0, Services Edition 3.0, Desktop Edition 3.0 or Silverlight Edition 3.0.

If you're still using Map Suite Desktop, Web or Engine version 2.x, we have a legacy edition of the World Map Kit comprised of three products--Render USA, Render Canada and Render World--that deliver equivalent benefits. Your purchase of the World Map Kit includes a license for the legacy edition. Simply contact us after you order to let us know which edition you need.

How Do I Get the World Map Kit?

You can purchase the World Map Kit from our online store. Make sure you check out the free online demo to explore the Kit and experience the kinds of maps it can bring to your applications. A 60-day complimentary evaluation edition of the World Map Kit is also available; contact us for details.

If you have a current Software Assurance Plan for Render USA, Render Canada or Render World, contact your ThinkGeo sales associate to request a free DVD upgrade to the World Map Kit Beta. All customers under current Software Assurance for these legacy products will receive a DVD of the World Map Kit once the final release is available.

Have Questions?

Check out the World Map Kit FAQ for answers to common questions about the kit's map data, shipping details, data updates and more. If you have a question that isn't covered in the FAQ, or to order the World Map Kit by phone, please call:

1-866-847-7510 (Toll-free inside North America)
1-785-727-4133 (International)

You can also contact us by email at sales@thinkgeo.com.

Learn How To Extend Map Suite

Join Us For a Free "Extending Map Suite" Webinar

Halloween is almost here, but extending Map Suite doesn't have to be scary. Learn how to take your Map Suite GIS applications a step further with our free introductory "Extending Map Suite" Webinar. See how to integrate your own data sources, add customizations to suit your needs, and more.

Learn How To Extend Map Suite
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/183328732

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Map Suite 3.0 Beta Testers: Get the Latest Bugfixes and Enhancements

If you're working with Map Suite Web or Services Edition 3.0 beta, our development team has just released a beta refresh that includes some enhancements and bugfixes that you may find valuable. You can update to the latest beta version of Map Suite 3.0 online at the following locations:

Trial users, download an Evaluation Edition upgrade
Licensed users, download a Full Edition upgrade

Want to know what's new in the latest beta refresh? Check out our changelogs:

If you have questions or need assistance upgrading to the latest version, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Don't forget to regularly check our Map Suite 3.0 Roadmap for the latest news on beta refreshes, plus the upcoming releases of Map Suite Desktop Edition 3.0 and Silverlight Edition 3.0!

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Download Your Free Trial of Web Edition 3.0

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - August 2008

ThinkGeo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:56:04 GMT

Map Suite Web Edition 3.0 Beta 1: Get It Now!

ThinkGeo is proud to introduce the all-new Map Suite Web Edition, the next generation of our popular ASP.NET GIS server control. If you're developing Web-based mapping applications, Web Edition 3.0 Beta 1 provides a host of new options that will make your development experience faster, easier and more powerful than before.

What's New in Map Suite Web Edition 3.0?

We've listened to your requests and have re-engineered Map Suite from the ground-up to give you the features you need most, starting with a streamlined API that lets you do more with less code. With fewer lines of code to debug and maintain, you can go to market faster and with less chance of error. On top of the revolutionary new API, we've packed tons of new features like:

Customizable markers, balloons and tooltips that you can style precisely with your own HTML and CSS
Built-in map controls, including zoom bar, pan, mini-map navigation and layer switcher--no extra code needed!
Support for many new spatial data formats, like Oracle Spatial, SQL 2008, PostgreSQL PostGIS, and Web Map Services (WMS).
Use Google, Yahoo Maps or Virtual Earth imagery and base layers to enrich your map's visual experience (third party licensing may apply).
Dynamic panning that lets new areas of the map fill in automatically
New rendering modes like RegEx Rendering and Chart/Graph Rendering
Over 80 "How Do I?" sample applications included with full source code in C# and VB.NET. Try them all online!

How Do I Get Map Suite Web Edition 3.0?

A free 60-day evaluation of Web Edition 3.0 Beta 1 is now available on our website. You can also purchase a fully-licensed version at our online store. Even better, users who have already purchased a license for Map Suite Web Edition can download the full version of Web Edition 3.0 Beta 1 at no extra charge! Simply login to your Customer Portal account, select "My Download" from the navigation bar, and click on the Web Edition 3.0 link.

What If I Need Help with Web Edition?

If you want to know how to do something with Web Edition, chances are the bundled sample applications can show you the way. They include more than 80 different demonstrations of key features with source code in C# and VB.NET. We've also written a new QuickStart Guide that will walk you through the development of your first map. Our full range of support options includes:

Contact support by email at support@thinkgeo.com, or by phone at:

1-866-847-7510 (Toll-free inside North America)
1-785-727-4133 (International)

Get a Head Start with the Web Edition Webinar

Register for the FREE Webinar Now!

Now that Map Suite Web Edition 3.0 is here, we'd like to offer you the chance to see the full range of benefits for yourself. Learn how you can take advantage of the new features in Web Edition 3.0 by attending our free Webinar. All you need is an Internet connection and a PC or Mac to join in! Here are the details:

Introduction to Map Suite Web Edition 3.0
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central Time

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/963638060

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Need Help Upgrading to Web Edition 3.0?

Let ThinkGeo Professional Services Help!

If you want the competitive advantage of Web Edition's new features, but aren't sure how to upgrade your project to support them, let ThinkGeo Professional Services help. Our highly-skilled developers can transform your legacy Map Suite Web project into a Web Edition 3.0 powerhouse on the schedule and budget you provide.

Get in touch with our Professional Services team today and let us know what you need! Send us your project details by email to sales@thinkgeo.com or call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133).

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!

Start Using Services Edition Now: Get a Free Trial!

Now you can download free evaluation demos of our most popular products, including the all-new Map Suite Web Edition 3.0 Beta 1. Map Suite evaluations are fully-functional and contain no locked or inaccessible features. Try them risk-free for 60 days!

ThinkGeo GIS Newsletter - July 2008

ThinkGeo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:53:04 GMT

Map Suite Services Edition Beta 1 Is Here!

ThinkGeo is excited to introduce Map Suite Services Edition 3.0 Beta 1, the first entry in our Map Suite 3.0 family of next-gen GIS developer tools for .NET. Map Suite Services Edition, which replaces Map Suite Engine, has been re-engineered from the ground up to provide a faster, more efficient and more powerful GIS development experience. Get all the details here.

What Can You Do With Map Suite Services Edition?

Map Suite Services Edition provides the foundation for your spatial services and console applications built in .NET, using Visual Studio 2008. If you need to build a GIS Web service or Windows service, Services Edition is for you. With built-in support for Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Web Map Service (WMS) technologies, you can generate standards-compliant imagery and transmit it to client applications with blazing speed.

How is Services Edition Better Than Map Suite Engine?

Short answer: In almost every way! In addition to the new WCF and WMS technologies, the API has been completely streamlined to enable more efficient coding, better IntelliSense and more coherent namespaces. It's even backed up by over 3,000 test cases, ensuring rock-solid stability. We've also included support for a wide variety of new spatial data formats, including Oracle Spatial, Microsoft SQL 2008, Postgre PostGIS, and ESRI ShapeFiles with advanced indexing. Plus, Map Suite's classes, styles and drawing engine are all fully customizable.

How Do I Get Map Suite Services Edition?

A free 60-day evaluation of Services Edition Beta 1 is now available on our website. You can also purchase a fully-licensed version at our online store. Even better, users who have already purchased a license for Map Suite Engine can download the full version of Services Edition Beta 1 at no extra charge! Simply login to your Customer Portal account, select "My Download" from the navigation bar, and click on the Services Edition link.

Getting Up To Speed with Services Edition

With the launch of Services Edition, we're introducing a new set of training materials, the centerpiece of which is our Learning Videos. Now you can see visually how to start working with Map Suite and add popular features to your maps. We've also written a new QuickStart Guide to Services Edition.

If you still need assistance, feel free to contact ThinkGeo's friendly support team; they are ready and waiting to assist you! You can open a support ticket at the Customer Portal, or email support@thinkgeo.com. For phone support, call toll-free 1-866-847-7510 (outside North America, dial 1-785-727-4133). You can also visit the ThinkGeo Discussion Forums and chat with other developers who are using Map Suite Services Edition!

Next-Gen: The Map Suite 3.0 Roadmap

Map Suite Services Edition is just the first release in the completely refreshed Map Suite 3.0 product family. In the near future, ThinkGeo will be announcing a whole host of improvements and updates across the entire Map Suite line. To keep track of the upcoming releases, we've put together a Map Suite 3.0 Roadmap that you can bookmark for all the latest news.

Map Suite 3.0 represents a quantum leap in GIS software development for the .NET platform. Each member of the Map Suite 3.0 family is built on the new core API, which has been redesigned to give you the power and stability that you need in today's marketplace. Map Suite 3.0 comes built-in with features like:

Components designed for Visual Studio 2008
More efficient API that lets you do more with less
Improved IntelliSense helps you find functionality quickly
Expanded support for new spatial data formats
Professional, predesigned styles and customizable drawing system
Support for custom OpenGIS® compliant data sources
Much, much more!

Check out our Map Suite 3.0 Roadmap for the latest news on the upcoming releases of the all-new Map Suite Web Edition, Desktop Edition and Silverlight Edition!

Free Map Suite Product Downloads!