Frequently Asked Questions
What do I receive when I purchase the Map Suite World Map Kit SDK?
With your purchase of the Map Suite World Map Kit SDK, you'll receive the following items:
- VB.NET and C# sample applications that show you how to integrate the Map Suite World Map Kit into your application.
- 20 GB 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.
- 1-year Software Assurance Plan that includes support and map updates for one year.
How difficult is it to integrate the Map Suite World Map Kit SDK into my application?
Typically it takes less than 30 minutes to get the World Map Kit up and running.
Why should I buy the Map Suite Map World Kit SDK instead of the Standalone Map Datasets listed on your website?
Countless hours have been spent developing the rendering logic for each zoom level, optimizing the map dataset, and making sure the best cartography is used to produce the most attractive map possible. While this effort could theoretically be duplicated by combining several of our standalone map datasets, the amount of time this would take is substantial—thus making the Map Suite World Map Kit a huge value.
Can I add additional map data or layers to the World Map Kit?
Yes. With the World Map Kit SDK, we provide you with source code to the rendering class so that you can easily add in your own mapping data.
Can I change the look and feel of the map rendering with World Map Kit SDK?
Yes. The World Map Kit SDK is the only edition of the World Map Kit that gives you all of the source code to the rendering logic, so you are free to modify the look and feel of the maps to meet your needs.
What mapping data does Map Suite World Map Kit use?
Map Suite World Map Kit uses a variety of publicly available map datasets from around the world and combines them into a comprehensive kit with global coverage. Using map datasets that are in the public domain allows our customers to deploy the World Map Kit royalty-free alongside their applications.
How is Map Suite World Map Kit SDK delivered?
Once you purchase the World Map Kit SDK, you will receive a DVD by mail with all of the map data, sample applications and rendering source code.
Why does the World Map Kit SDK come with two different sets of data — DecimalDegree and SphericalMercator?
DecimalDegree and SphericalMercator are two different projections of your data. DecimalDegree is a common projection used in many applications, and SphericalMercator is a projection used by Google and many other online map providers. We include these two popular projections pre-rendered on two separate data DVDs so that you can choose the one that best suits your purposes, without the performance concerns of reprojecting on-the-fly.
How much do map data updates cost?
Map data updates are free as long as you have a current Software Assurance Plan for your World Map Kit purchase. The first year of coverage under the plan is included in the price of the product, and annual renewals going forward are available for a nominal fee.
How difficult is it to update the map data when I receive the new DVD in the mail?
It's as easy as extracting and overwriting the old data.
What is the difference between the World Map Kit SDK, World Map Kit WMS Server and World Map Kit Online?
Each edition of the World Map Kit includes the same complete set of world map data and professional design logic that makes your maps look great. The difference lies in the intended use for each product. Let's break it down:
- The World Map Kit SDK is an extension for our line of Map Suite GIS software controls, such as Desktop Edition or Web Edition. When you combine the two, you can add world maps into the custom mapping applications that you create using Visual Studio and the .NET Framework. Additionally, because the World Map Kit SDK comes with full source code included, you can completely customize the look and feel of the maps or even add your own data to the mix. The World Map Kit SDK requires .NET development experience.
- The World Map Kit WMS Server combines the complete world dataset with a standalone Web Map Server (WMS) that you host on your own hardware. The included map server allows you to serve maps from the World Map Kit over the Internet or Intranet to any client application that can consume a standards-compliant WMS. This makes it unnecessary to distribute the large map dataset with your application, and the in-house hosting means that you have control over the server hardware, security permissions, SLAs and more. You don't need to be a developer to set up a World Map Kit WMS Server.
- The World Map Kit Online is the easiest way to gain access to the complete global dataset of the World Map Kit directly over the Internet, without needing to install anything or maintain your own servers. ThinkGeo hosts the World Map Kit Online on our own servers, and all you do is connect to them with your applications to receive great map imagery of anyplace on Earth. Simply pay an annual fee to access our servers and get clean, unwatermarked map images.
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