Map Suite 6.0 Has Arrived — Downloads Are Available Immediately.

Today we are proud to announce the release of a major upgrade to the Map Suite GIS product family! Map Suite 6.0 represents a leap forward for developers, with many improvements over previous versions of Map Suite. We've fully integrated the new features that have been available in our daily builds and brought other enhancements and bug fixes to the table. Version 6.0 represents a must-have upgrade for all .NET developers of Map Suite!

Here's Where to Get It

• To update your evaluation edition, simply download and install a new copy from our Evaluation Downloads page.
• If you've purchased your Map Suite product(s), login to the Customer Portal to download an updated licensed copy. (A current Software Assurance Plan is required.)

You can install Map Suite 6.0 alongside earlier versions; as per our usual release strategy, we've included both strong-named and weak-named assembles so that you have the flexibility to choose how you want to develop. For more information on this strategy and the ramifications of choosing strong-named or weak-named assemblies, please see this earlier blog entry.

What's new in Map Suite 6.0?

Map Suite 6.0 introduces not only some very significant performance and "future-proofing" compatibility enhancements, it also adds support for some of the popular features and capabilities that were requested by our user base. Below, you'll find highlights of the top features that you'll enjoy as part of your upgrade to version 6.0, organized by product. Please keep in mind that all of the enhancements in Map Suite Services Edition can also be found in all of our other Map Suite development components and controls, which are built around the Services Edition's core.

Map Suite Services Edition (Features Common to All Map Suite Editions)

• Improved drawing performance.
  We took a multi-pronged approach with respect to improving the drawing speed of Map Suite. First, we are introducing the new Direct2D drawing mode (via our WicBitmap extension) as an alternative to GDI+, which can improve drawing times by 50% or more depending on the application. In addition, we've applied some very significant speed optimizations to the ShapeFileFeatureLayer that particularly improves rendering of dense or complex geometries to small areas of the screen.
• Enhanced XML serialization of the map object.
  We've redesigned our XML serialization framework to make it easier and more intuitive, while at the same time offering an option to reduce the size of the XML generated by not serializing default objects or values. With this new system, it should be easier for you to future-proof your maps and offer greater forwards compatibility with future versions of Map Suite.
  
  For more information, see our updated Serialization Guide or download the "Serialize to XML" code sample from our wiki.
• Introduced the new Map Suite Code Generator.
  The all-new Code Generator allows you to generate source code (in C# or other possible formats) from objects that you have created in your project. This is very helpful in scenarios where you have a UI that allows users to add and modify layers, styles etc. and then want to export them into code to use in another project. It can also be used in conjunction with the new serialization tools by allowing you to create objects, serialize them and later generate code back from the XML.
  
  To see an example of how the Code Generator works, download the code sample from our wiki.
• Added new events for greater label formatting capabilities.
  The new Formatting and Formatted events on the TextStyle enable you to retrieve labels right before and after they have been formatted the traditional way and programmatically change them. This puts you right before the label placement algorithm, so any changes you make to a label's length will be honored by the labeling placement system. For a usage example, see this blog entry.
• Added support for ThinkGeo's TinyGeo (.tgeo) file format.
  This new vector data format has been designed in response to requests from our customers, who have asked us to provide an efficient spatial file format for GIS data. TinyGeo supports secure encryption of both vector and tabular data, is distributed as a single file (with no need for separate indexes, .dbf files and so forth), and is decompressed by Map Suite on the fly so that the entire datastore does not need to be extracted before use. For full details, see our TinyGeo announcement.
  
  To start using the TinyGeo format with Map Suite 6.0, begin by downloading the TinyGeo code sample and Shapefile converter from the ThinkGeo Wiki. This will allow you to easily convert your existing Shapefile data, and will show you the code you'll need to use your new TinyGeo data in Map Suite.
• Added layer transparency.
  We are now able to support transparency, negative and grey-scale on all layers in Map Suite, via three new properties on the Layer class:
  • Layer.Transparency - A value from 0 to 255 that controls how transparent the layer should be. The default is 255 which means it is fully opaque.
  • Layer.IsGreyscale - A Boolean value that defaults to false. If set to true, the layer will be displayed in shades of grey.
  • Layer.IsNegative - A Boolean value that defaults to false. If set to true, the layer's colors will be inverted and shown as their negative counterparts.
• Added support for WMS 1.3.0.
• Added support for the latest version of MrSid and ECW raster images.
• Added the ability to use custom servers in the OpenStreetMapLayer.
• Added Nautical Miles to the ScaleBarAdornmentLayer.
• Improved drawing quality of TiffRasterLayer.
• Updated all third-party DLLs to their latest version.
• Plus, check out the Map Suite Services Edition 6.0 Change Log for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes.

Map Suite Desktop Edition

• Improved the LegendPrinterLayer by rendering it with vector graphics.
• Added the method ZoomToNextExtent().
• Plus, check out the Map Suite Desktop Edition 6.0 Change Log for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes.

Map Suite WPF Desktop Edition

• We've enhanced WPF Desktop Edition with a variety bug fixes, features and improvements, in addition to all of the great features introduced in the Map Suite 6.0 core namespace. Take a look at the Map Suite WPF Desktop Edition 6.0 Change Log for the complete list.

Map Suite MVC Edition

• Added Google Maps' Street View to the GoogleMapOverlay.
  Seamlessly integrate Google's immersive Street View into your MVC web applications.
• Introduced the full public release.
  Map Suite MVC Edition has left beta and is now in full release!
• Plus, check out the Map Suite MVC Edition Change Log for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes. (As this product was only recently introduced, there is not yet an extensive change history.)

Map Suite Web Edition

• Added new web request events and methods.
  We have added new events and some new protected virtual core methods to give you access to the web request as it happens on all of our applicable layers and overlays. The two new events allow you to catch before and after the web request happens, enabling you to modify the request in ways such as using a custom URI, using a local server, etc. We have also added a new SendWebRequestCore method that allows you to override the web request call, giving you ultimate control in inherited classes.
  
  For a full list of the enhanced classes and some example code showing how to use the new methods, see this blog entry.
• Added Google Maps' Street View to the GoogleMapOverlay.
  Seamlessly integrate Google's immersive Street View into your MVC web applications.
• Added Google Maps' Traffic View to the GoogleMapOverlay.
  Display live traffic data from Google right on your Map Suite map.
• Added support for MapQuest on the client side.
  This enables you to display background maps from MapQuest in your Map Suite application.
• Added opacity support on popups.
  This allows you to give your popup balloons variable transparency.
• Plus, check out the Map Suite Web Edition 6.0 Change Log for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes.

Map Suite Silverlight Edition

• Added Out-Of-Browser support.
  Now you can launch Map Suite Silverlight applications either disconnected or connected without the browser as the container. For example code demonstrating this, and some important points that are required to make out-of-browser support work, download the OOB code sample from our wiki.
• Improved Bing Maps performance.
  This was accomplished by switching the Bing Maps service from SOAP to REST.
• Plus, check out the Map Suite Silverlight Edition 6.0 Change Log for the full list of enhancements and bug fixes.

Map Suite WMS Server Edition

• We've enhanced WMS Server Edition with a wide variety of bug fixes, features and improvements. Take a look at the Map Suite WMS Server Edition 5.5 Change Log for the complete list.

Map Suite Geocoder

• We've enhanced Map Suite Geocoder with a variety of bug fixes, features and improvements. Take a look at the Map Suite Geocoder 6.0 Change Log for the complete list.

Map Suite Routing Extension

• We fixed a bug that would cause the process to hang when routing with only one stopping point. For reference, please see the official Map Suite Routing 6.0 Change Log.

Map Suite Windows Phone Edition

• Map Suite Windows Phone Edition has been updated to use version 6.0 of the Map Suite Core library, giving you access to all of the enhancements therein. Take a look at the Map Suite Windows Phone Edition 6.0 Change Log for the complete list.

Map Suite GPS Tracking Server

• We added this new product to help .NET developers quickly start up a robust, customizable GPS tracking system. For more details, refer to the Map Suite GPS Tracking Server product information or the GPS Tracking Server wiki page.

Map Suite Icon Library

• We added the new Cartographic Symbols category of icons, containing some common map markers, push-pins, north arrows and more. See the Icon Library Samples for a preview of the new icons.

Don't forget to check out the ThinkGeo Wiki for complete API change logs and lots of other in-depth information about the Map Suite product(s) you're using.

Map Suite's New Annual Release Cycle

Beginning with today's release, Map Suite moves to an annual release cycle. Whereas previously we had issued a major new release in May and a largely stability-focused release in November, we have eliminated the November release and will instead be focusing on delivering continuous bug fixes and updates via the daily builds.

Map Suite's daily builds will also be an avenue for you to test beta features as we implement them, allowing you to use new functionality as soon as it becomes available. We'll continue to offer two branches of daily builds, one focused on new features and the other focused on bug fixes and stability enhancements.

Daily Builds Resume

Production of Map Suite daily builds has also resumed, and you can download them from your Customer Portal account as of today. Remember, the daily builds will become the premier way for Map Suite users to get bug fixes and new features between our annual upgrades each spring.

For more information about our daily builds and how to get them, please see the Map Suite Daily Builds Guide.

Watch or subscribe to our Developer Blog and social network feeds to stay informed when new features and bug fixes arrive in the daily builds! You can follow us on:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Google+
• LinkedIn

Support and Resources for Map Suite 6.0

You're already in the best place for Map Suite support: our discussion forums. Each Map Suite product has its own dedicated support forum and is monitored by our development staff, so feel free to post your questions and issues there.

The ThinkGeo Wiki is your best resource for documentation, guides and sample code. Simply pick the Map Suite product you're using from the left sidebar, and all of your options will be laid out for you. If you're a new user, we've updated our QuickStart Guides for Map Suite 6.0 -- they're the best place to start when building your first application.

We've already started working on implementing our big plans for Map Suite 7.0, so you can expect to see new beta features start arriving in the daily builds. If you didn't see a feature or enhancement that you were waiting for in Map Suite 6.0, visit our Enhancement Tracker. There, you can see what we're planning for future versions of Map Suite, vote for the enhancements you want, or tell us about a new idea you want to see implemented.

In the meantime, please enjoy working with Map Suite 6.0 and feel free to post your comments, questions and remarks on this topic, in the support forum specific to the control you're using, or send them to us directly at support@thinkgeo.com.

Thanks for choosing Map Suite,
The ThinkGeo Team