MapInfo Training

Concepts & Definitions

MapInfo Training Course
There are 3 Sections to this course

3. Concepts & Definitions

• Coordinate Systems
• Projections
• Introducing MapInfo
4. MapInfo Training – Part 1: Basics
• Tables
• Maps
• Layouts
5. MapInfo Training – Part 2: Advanced
• Thematic Maps
• Selections
• Queries
• Sample Application
What is GIS?
• GIS Refers to software tools which use spatial /
geographic techniques to visualize and analyze
data
• Typically, GIS is used to relate different types
of geographic data.
o Polygons (e.g. counties)
o lines (e.g. rivers or utility lines)
o points (e.g. population centers)
• This information can then be geographically
identified and related
• Spatial relationships between data translate to
mathematical expressions and can be evaluated
by GIS tools
What GIS is NOT!
• GIS is not equivalent to digital mapping
• There are better programs available (i.e. Adobe
Freehand or Illustrator) for creating
presentation quality digital maps
• Questions such as “Which county has the
highest population?” can be answered by a
database
• Questions such as “Which county has the
highest density of potential customers within 5
miles of potential radio sites?” use GIS
Coordinate Systems
• A coordinate system is used to create a
numerical representation of geometric objects.
• Each point in a geometric object is represented
by a pair of numbers.
• Those numbers are the coordinates for that
point.
• In cartography*, coordinate systems are closely
related to projections.
• You create a coordinate system by supplying
specific values for the parameters of a
projection.

* Cartography is the art and science of making maps. In GIS it is

the graphic presentation and visual interpretation of data.
Coordinate Systems
Latitude
• The North-South position of a point
• The Y-Axis
• Measured in degrees or decimal degrees above
or below the equator.
• Latitude lines are the horizontal lines on a map
• Latitude lines increase from 0 degrees at the
Equator to 90 degrees at both the North (+90.0
degrees) and South (-90.0 degrees) poles.
Lines of Latitude

N (+) 41 12 23

W E

(-) 41 12 23 Equator
S
Coordinate Systems
Longitude
• Used to describe the East – West position of a
point
• The X-Axis
• It is reported as the number of degrees East (to
–180.0 degrees) or west (to +180.0 degrees)
of the Prime Meridian (0 degrees)
• Represented by vertical lines running from
North to South.
• Lines of Longitude are farthest apart at the
Equator and intersect at both poles, and are
therefore not parallel.
Lines of Longitude

Prime Meridian
N

W E

(-) 76 02 14 S (+) 76 02 14
Converting Lat & Longs
• MapInfo uses Latitude and Longitude
coordinates in the decimal degrees format.

• 30 minutes = half a degree

• 30 seconds = half a minute

• Latitude (+) 41 12 23
41 Degrees 12 Minutes 23 Seconds
41 + (12 Minutes / 60 Minutes) + (23 Seconds / 3600 Seconds)
41.206

• Longitude (-) 76 02 14
-76 Degrees 2 Minutes 14 Seconds
-76 + (2 Minutes / 60 Minutes) + (14 Seconds / 3600 Seconds)
-76.037
Projections
• A Projection is a mathematical model that
translates the location of features on the
Earth’s surface to locations on a two-
dimensional surface.
• All projections have a degree of distortion
• A map projection can preserve area, distance,
shape or direction but only a globe can
preserve everything!
• MapInfo has a wide range of projections for
displaying maps, it defaults to Latitude /
Longitude.
Projection Example
Examples of Projections
Some well known projections are:
• Mercator – Produce maps suited for navigation
• Lambert – Produce maps suited for visual
analysis

In MapInfo
• Latitude/Longitude NAD27 – Bahamas, Cape
etc.*
• Latitude/Longitude NAD83*
• Various other options

* Used by many Network Planning Software tools

What is MapInfo?
• MapInfo Professional
 Windows based
 Mapping (thematic)
 Can handle both Vector & Raster data
 Data Analysis
 SQL Query, Geographic Queries
 Imports/exports to many popular data formats
 Cartographic Legends
 Layout (Presentation)
 Graphing / Charting
Raster and Vector Data
Vector
Constructed by joining points
with lines. Nodes are the start
and end points, vertices are
the points where there is a
change of direction.
Raster
Pixels are used to represent
features. Each pixel covers a
set area of the ground,
dependant upon resolution.
Used mainly for representing
areas.
What is it used for?
Areas of Application
• Marketing / Market Planning
o Locate customers / users, prioritize market launch
• Strategic Planning
o Business case analysis, trending, forecasting
• RF Engineering
o Enhance site selection / maximizing demographic
coverage
• Network Engineering
o Interconnect / backhaul planning
• Maintenance / Optimization
o Analysis / Mapping of network problems, complaints
MapInfo Training
Part 1: Basics
Tables: Structure
• Tables typically consist of between 3 and 4 files
associated by MapInfo
• Tables can represent either raster data, vector
data, or non-geographic data
• Tables can be in the native MapInfo format
(.tab) or external formats opened in MapInfo
(mdb, xls, dbf, jpg, gif)
• It is estimated that up to 85% of the Worlds
databases contain some sort of Geographic
information (lat/long, post code, etc.)
Tables: File Structure

Table definition, File containing File containing raster

OR
ASCII file containing tabular data. (.dat, data. (.bmp, .jpg, .gif,
structure (.tab) .xls, .dbf, etc) etc)

File containing File cross-referencing File indexing tabular

graphical objects. tabular data with fields for searching.
(.map) graphical objects. (.id) (.ind)
Tables: Opening

• To open a file use the Open Table Dialog;

o Menu (File > Open..)
• Default view is automatic, but this can be
changed.
• When you open a file you register it with
MapInfo as being open
• Just because there is no map or browser
window open it does not mean that there are
no files open!
Tables: Opening
The View Options Are:
o Automatic (Default)
o Browser
o Current Mapper
o New Mapper
o No View

• Automatic setting is quite

intelligent and will be fine
for most uses.
• Double-click a file name
to open, or select the
name and click the OK
button.
Tables: Closing

• Closing a window does NOT close a table!

• Tables remain open until you specifically tell
MapInfo to close them
• This is done in one of two ways, depending on
what you are trying to do

Closing Single Tables: Closing All Tables:

Menu (File > Close Table) Menu (File > Close All)
Tables: Saving
• After editing tables you need to save the table
in order to save your changes
• This is done by using the save dialog
o Menu (File > Save Table)
• MapInfo will present a list of tables that have
had changes done to them, select the table you
wish to save from the list and click OK
• If no tables have been edited then the “Save
Table” option in the “File” menu will be greyed
out
• Before closing tables or exiting, MapInfo will
warn you if there are any unsaved changes in
tables.
Tables: Saving Copies Of
• Occasionally you will need to save copies of
tables
• This is especially true if you import tables that
are not MapInfo native
• Before you can edit the structure of these
tables they must be in a MapInfo native format
• Use the Save Copy Dialog to do this
o Menu (File > Save Copy As..)
• MapInfo shows a list of all open tables
• Select the table you want to make a copy of
• Enter a location and file name in the dialog
• Click OK
Tables: Creating New

• Sometimes it will be necessary to create your

own blank tables, into which you can put your
own data. This might be some new Cell sites
that you want to plot
• Use the File > New Table menu option
• Select whether you want to open a browser or
mapper, or both!
• Use a mapper if you will be drawing objects
(such as point locations)
• Use a browser if you want to type data into a
table (like a spreadsheet)
• The “Create New Table Dialog” will appear
Tables: New Table Dialog

• Click the “Add Field”

button
• Give the field a name
• Choose a field type
(character, float, integer,
etc)
• Enter a value for the
maximum width of the
fied
• Tick “Table is mappable”
box (for map tables!)
• Choose a projection
(default is Latitude /
Longitude)
• Repeat for all fields
• Click create new
• Give it a file name
• Click OK
Tables: Viewing
• To view the data in a table MapInfo uses
Browser windows
• Browser windows show the data in a tabular
format, much like a spreadsheet program
(Excel)
Tables: Importing Files
• MapInfo can open and view several different file
types
o dBASE DBF (.dbf)
o Delimited ASCII (.txt)
o Lotus 123 (.wk1, .wks, .wk2, etc)
o Microsoft Excel (.xls)
o Microsoft Access Database (.mdb)
• The method of opening varies with each file
type
• The most common types viewed are Excel and
ASCII
Tables: Important Issues
• Opening a non MapInfo file format only allows
you to view the data
• You cannot edit / map etc a non-native file
format
• This method of opening is merely a dynamic
link to the original file
• If you make changes to the original file then
these changes would be reflected in MapInfo
• This method of file opening is good for viewing
sample data
• To import the file you need to save a copy of
the table as mentioned previously
Tables: Exporting
• MapInfo can export its tables to the following
formats:
o MapInfo Interchange (.mif)
o Delimited ASCII (.txt)
o AutoCAD DXF (.dxf)
o dBASE DBF (.dbf)
• The most common use of export is to text files,
these can then be read by virtually any other
program
Tables: Table Maintenance
• It is very important to know how to maintain
tables
• It allows you to:
o Alter table structure
o Delete tables
o Rename tables
o Pack tables
• The table maintenance options can be accessed
via:
o Menu (Table > Maintenance)
• This opens a sub menu containing the
maintenance options
Tables: Structure Dialog
• You can add, remove, or rename a tables fields
• You can also alter the position of fields in a
table
• The properties of a field may also be altered
(name, type, and width)
Tables: Deleting
• Using this function will delete a table and all its
associated files from your hard disk
• Accessed via:
o Menu (Table > Maintenance > Delete Table)
• Can NOT be undone!
• Select the table to delete from the list that
appears
Tables: Renaming

• This option allows you to rename an open table

• It renames the table within MapInfo, and also
renames all associated files
• Accessed via:
o Menu (Table > Maintenance > Rename Table)
• Select table to rename from list that appears
• Give it a new file name in the save dialog
• Click “Save”
• All files are renamed and the tables entry in
MapInfo is also renamed
Tables: Packing
• When you delete a row from a table you only
delete the data in that row
• You do NOT delete the actual row
• To delete empty rows from a table you must
use the Pack Table function:
o Menu (Table > Maintenance > Pack Table)
• Select the table to pack from the list
• Select the pack method
• Click OK
Tables: Pack Table Dialog
Pack Options
2. Pack Tabular Data
o Only packs the table
3. Pack Graphic Data
o Only packs graphical
objects
4. Pack Both Types of Data
o Packs both tabular and
graphical data

• If your table is just

tabular then use option
1, otherwise use option 3
Maps: Map Window
• The map window is the fundamental view in
MapInfo
• It allows a geographic view of data supporting
many different projections
• Requires that your table has geographic objects
Maps: Objects
• Hidden column in mappable tables called the
“obj” column
• The “obj” is a symbolic link to the “.map” file of
your table
• There are four basic types of map objects:
o Regions: Closed objects covering a given geography
 Examples: Countries, Counties, Provinces
o Points: Single locations / Coordinates
 Examples: City, Tower, Building
o Lines (Single, Arc, Poly): Open linear objects
 Examples: Motorways, rivers
o Text: Text with geographic links
 Example: Labels
Maps: Object Styles
• Map objects have default styles saved to tables
when created
• Typically when mapping, it is necessary to
change these styles for esthetic reasons
• Changes can mean variations in color, fill, line
thickness, or text style depending on the type
of objects
• Global style changes (affecting all objects in a
table) are set in layer control (Display Option)
using a Style Override
• Permanent style changes can be made directly
to an editable table, but not recommended
• Changes can also be made using Thematic
Layers
Maps: Object Labelling
• Each map object can be labeled
• Labels can be made automatically or manually
• Labels are typically based on tabular data
• Automatic labels created from label control,
manual labels are set with the label tool (Main
Button Pad)
• Label Styles set from Layer Control (Source,
Font, Color, etc..)

* Note: Labels are not permanent additions to tables, they are merely
annotations saved in the current session (saved in Workspaces)
Maps: Layer Control
• Maps consist of tables displayed as layers
• Analogy: Each table can be viewed on a
transparency, and these transparencies are
then stacked to create a map
• Order of layers controls the appearance of your
map
• Layers can be tables, thematic views of tables,
or mapped queries
• The “Layer Control” dialog is a tool to help you
manipulate your layers
• Accessed by:
o Menu (Map > Layer Control)
o Right-Click in a map window > Layer Control
Layers Analogy
Maps: Layer Control Dialog
• Allows you to:
o Add / Remove layers
o Change order of layers (influencing map composition)
o Change layers display properties
o Control layers labelling
o Turn layers on or off
Maps: Zooming & Panning

• Zooming and Panning is

easily controlled through
buttons on the Main button
pad Zoom Out

• Change View will allow you Zoom In

to set a specific zoom level

and center for your map Change View
• Grabber will let you pan your
Grabber
map manually
Maps: Cosmetic Layers
• Each map has a cosmetic layer by default,
which serves as a ‘scratch pad’ for temporary
data
• You can use this layer to store map objects
temporarily, with the ability to save or discard
objects
• Objects in the cosmetic layer are saved in
workspaces
• Objects in cosmetic layers are not by default
saved to tables, they can be saved or discarded
by selecting menu items from the Map menu
Maps: Saving Objects
• As mentioned, objects in the cosmetic layer can
be saved into their own table
• Accessed by:
o Menu (Map > Save Cosmetic Objects)
• In the save dialog that appears choose a
location and name to save the table to
• Click OK
• The table will be added to MapInfo’s list of
current tables
Layouts: Description
• Layout Windows are a page layout feature which allows
the user to arrange map, browser, and graph windows
along with annotations and prepare for printing
o Layout Windows are the preferred method of printing from
MapInfo
o Layouts are specific to a paper size and orientation
o Layouts use frames to organize map, graph, and browser
windows
o Layouts are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get), the
only true representation of how your maps will appear when
printed
o Annotations can be added directly to the Layout Window
(Text, Lines, Regions) and are saved in Workspaces
o Frames can be added using the Frame Tool on the Main
Toolpad
o Scale of maps can be precisely indicated using Layout
Windows
Sample Layout

Text Annotations

Map Frame

Legend Frame
Browser Frame
MapInfo Training
Part 2: Advanced
Thematic Maps: Description
• Map Layers can be shaded Thematically
o Object Styles (Color, line width, fill, etc..) can be
controlled based on values of tabular data associated
to that object
o Thematic Layers help display geographic trends of
data
o Types of Thematic Layers:
 Ranges: Shade based on ranges of data values
 Individual: Shade each unique value individually
 Other: Pie Charts, Bar Charts, Graduated Symbols, Dot Density,
Grid
Thematic Maps: Creating
• First decide exactly what it is you are trying to
display
• Select Menu:
o Map > Create Thematic Map
• Select the type of thematic map to create
• Select the table containing the data
• Select the column with values to use
• Make adjustments to the legend
• Click OK!
Thematic Maps: Legends
• The appearance of your thematic map is
controlled by the final section of the wizard
• From here you can adjust the following
o Ranges
o Styles
o Legend Properties
o Legend label order
Thematic Maps: Important Points

• Appear in Layer Control above tables they are

based upon
• May be visible even if base tables are not
• Ranges can be set in a variety of ways,
including statistically calculated methods
• Styles & Ranges can be customized and saved
to templates which can be applied easily to
other tables
• Thematic layers are saved in workspaces and
are not modifications of base tables
• Thematic maps can be modified
Legends: Description
• The legend for the thematic map is displayed in
a window
• Extra components can be added to the legend
• Click the right mouse button in the legend
window and select the “Add Frames” option
• Use the wizard to add or remove elements from
the legend
• Double clicking a component in the legend
window opens the editing dialog
• This can be used to alter the appearance of the
component (title, style, etc)
Selections: Described
• Selections are subsets of table data created by
the user
o Selections can be created manually either through
map windows or browser windows
o Selections can be created automatically through query
capabilities of MapInfo
o Selections are temporary tables created by MapInfo
and can be saved to permanent tables
o Selections are also known as Queries, and are
represented in MapInfo as temporary tables named
QueryN, where N represents an integer
Selections: Using
• Selections can be :
o Added to maps as new layers
o Viewed in browser windows
o Used to edit subsets of tables
o Appended to other tables
o View / Analyze subsets of data
o Make further selections
• Selections can be made using the screen
• Or by querying the data
Selections: From Screen
• Tools: Select Tool, Radius Select Tool,
Boundary Select Tool, Marquee Select
Tool, Select All, Unselect All
• Tools can be used to make selections
directly from map windows on the
screen
• Selections can only be made from a
single table, whose selectable status is
enabled
• Selections are highlighted on the map
• Multiple selections can be made using
the Control key in conjunction with
tools
Selections: From Queries
• Allows you to create expressions based on data
fields and query tables based upon those
expressions
• For Example, you can ask MapInfo to:
o Show Post Code regions where the population >
50,000
o Show Buildings where expected revenue > $20,000
o Show Cell Sites co-located with Bell Atlantic?
Queries: Expressions
• Expressions are logical statements which ask
the questions to MapInfo
• If you wanted to know which Zip Codes had a
population > 50,000 your expression might be:
o POP_90 > 50000
• Expression are typed directly into the Select
Dialog, the expression assistant can help in
forming the expressions
• Expression can be complex containing logical
operators (such as OR, AND, NOT) and
mathematical operators (such as + / = *)
• MapInfo’s query language is SQL
Miscellaneous: MapBasic Window

• MapBasic is MapInfo’s scripting language

• The MapBasic window can be opened by:
o Menu (Options > Show MapBasic Window)
• Any time MapInfo performs an operation the
relevant MapBasic command is printed in the
window
• Commands can be typed into the window
• The window is handy for controlling elements of
MapInfo, such as selections
• Example command:
o Select * From table Where condition Into new table
Miscellaneous: Workspaces
• Workspaces are a feature in MapInfo that
enable you to save your current work session.
By saving a workspace, you will keep track of:
o Tables you currently have open
o Views are open for tables (Map, Browser, Graph)
o Thematic Layers
o Queries
o Legend Windows
o Labels
o Style Settings for all map windows
Miscellaneous: Workspaces
• When opening a workspace, you will be
recreating your saved work session
o Tables will automatically be opened
o Views will be created, including Layout Windows
o Global Styles and Thematic Styles will be applied
• Save and Open workspaces from the file menu
• Saving workspaces will not save current edits to
tables, editing or renaming tables may
invalidate saved workspaces
• Workspace files are simply text files containing
a series of MapBasic commands which tell
MapInfo what to do
Questions & Answers