Copyright: ©1995 MapInfo Corp., Troy, NY, all rights reserved


Data Installer Help Contents

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

Introduction

What is the purpose of the Data Map Data Installer?

What is a MapInfo table?

Where can I obtain additional MapInfo tables?

Using the Data Installer

Installing data

Copyright issues


Choose Map Data Directory dialog box

Allows you to specify where your maps are installed. If you manually moved your Data Map sample maps after you installed Microsoft Excel, use this dialog box to specify the new folder.

Data Directory

To specify the location of the Data Map data library and related files, type the new folder name in the Data Directory box.

Alternate Data Search Paths

To specify an alternate search folder, type a path (or a list of paths, separated by semicolons) into the Alternate Data Search Paths box. This box is optional.

Note   In most cases, you don’t need to type the alternate data search paths. When you install a table, the Data Installer updates the search paths. However, if you rename or rearrange the folders on your hard disk, the alternate data search paths may no longer be valid. In that case, edit the  search paths to reflect the new folder names.


Open MapInfo Table dialog box

Allows you to select the MapInfo table you want to add to the Data Map library.

Select the name of the MapInfo table you want ( .tab extension), and then click OK.

Note   You can only select a table that is already installed on your computer. If you purchased a MapInfo table on floppy disks, the disks contain data in a compressed format. Install the table onto your computer (using the instructions provided with the disks) before you set up the table for use with Data Map.


Map Library dialog box

Allows you to add or delete tables (map features).

Map Library

Lists the installed tables.

Add

To add a table to the Data Map library, click Add. You can add a table that you created using MapInfo for Windows or that you purchased from MapInfo Corporation.

Delete

To delete the table selected in the Map Library list from your library, click Delete. The table is not actually deleted from the library until you click Save.

Deleting a table removes the table from your map library. However, the files that make up the table are not deleted.

Save

To apply your changes, click Save.

Exit

To quit the Data Installer, click Exit.


Configure Map dialog box

Allows you to set up the MapInfo table you are adding.

MapInfo Table

Shows the filename and path of the MapInfo table you are installing.

Description

To assign a description to the table you are adding, type the description in the Description box.

The description should state what is in the table (for example, "County Boundaries").

Geometry Type

Shows what types of geographic features are used in your table: POINT, LINE, BOUNDARY, or MIXED. Do not select the feature type; it is set automatically.

Template File

Shows the name of a map template (.GST) file that uses the table you are installing. The Data Installer creates the template file. The next time you run Data Map, you will be able to see your map by choosing this template.

If the Template File box is not available, the Data Installer will not create a new template for this table (because the table does not have any geographic data, such as town names). To display a table that does not have its own template, create a map using another template, and then click Add Feature on the Data Map Map menu.

Field Information

Controls how Data Map searches your table when you first create a map.

When you create a map within Microsoft Excel, Data Map searches the installed tables to determine which tables match the selected data. Because searches take time, you might not want Data Map to search every field.

Field Name

Lists the names of the indexed fields in the selected MapInfo table.

Search

To prevent Data Map from searching a field, clear the Search check box for that field.

Table Used To Refine Searches

Specifies a refining table (a table Data Map will use to resolve feature names that are not unique). For example, U.S. county names are not unique, because more than one state has a Washington County. If you select county names as the data to map, Data Map needs an additional table to resolve non-unique names.

If all of the fields in this table have unique values, the Table Used To Refine Searches box is not available.

You can specify only one refining table for the table you are installing. The refining table will be used to resolve searches on any of the fields in this table.


What is the purpose of the Data Map Data Installer?

The Data Installer sets up maps for use with the Data Map component of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.

Microsoft Excel includes an assortment of sample maps, but many other maps are also available. If you purchase additional maps, or if you create your own maps using MapInfo for Windows, use the Data Installer to prepare your maps for use with Data Map.

Note   Data Map does not support any MapInfo map that is based on a raster image (such as an aerial photograph). Also, Data Map does not support any MapInfo street map that is actually a relational join of two separate tables.


What is a MapInfo table?

A table is a set of several files that make up a map feature. For example, the WORLD table is a map of country boundaries around the world. The WORLD table consists of several files: WORLD.TAB, WORLD.DAT, WORLD.MAP, WORLD.ID, and WORLD.IND. The files are collectively known as a table.

A map usually includes several tables (in other words, several features). For example, a map of the world might include a table of country boundaries, a table of capital cities, and a table showing longitude/latitude lines.


Installing data

If you have purchased a table from MapInfo Corporation, copy the table to your computer (following the instructions provided with the table) before you run the Data Map Data Installer. Then, to set up your table for use with Data Map:

1.	To run the Data Installer, double-click DATAINST.EXE.

2.	In the Choose Map Data Directory dialog box, click OK.

3.	In the Map Library dialog box, click Add.

4. 	Specify the table you want to add.

5.	If the Configure Map dialog box appears, enter configuration options and click OK.

6.	If the Add Directory dialog box appears, specify whether you want to copy the table to the main directory where Data Map stores its maps. If the table is very large, you might not want to copy it, because you might not have enough free disk space. However, if you are installing the table from CD ROM, you may want to copy it for the sake of speed. Data Map can then read the table from your hard disk, which is faster than reading it from CD ROM.

To copy the table to the main Data Map data directory, click Copy Data.

To use the table without copying it, click Add Directory. The Data Installer will update your alternate data search path, so that Data Map will be able to locate the table.

7.	In the Map Library dialog box, click Save.

The next time you run Data Map, you will be able to create maps using the MapInfo table you installed. The dialog boxes will list the table description you entered in the Configure Map dialog box, not the original MapInfo table name.


Purchasing additional maps

Additional maps and demographic data files are available. For information:

Click  [image] to view an electronic brochure.

Log on to the Microsoft Network and browse the MapInfo Forum (Go word: MapInfo).

Contact MapInfo Corporation:

MapInfo Corporation
One Global View
Troy, NY  12180-8399  USA

Telephone:	800.488.3552 (USA only)
518.285.7110 (International)
Facsimile:	518.285.6070

Internet: sales@mapinfo.com


Copyright issues

Before you use the Data Installer, be aware that digital maps (such as MapInfo tables) are protected by copyright law. Do not install a MapInfo table unless you have the licensed right to do so.

When you purchase a MapInfo table, your use of the table is subject to the terms and conditions of the purchase. For example, most tables are sold with restrictions on the number of users who may use the table. If you purchase a single-user license to use a table, you may use the table but you may not allow others to copy it.

To obtain additional licenses for purchased tables, contact the organization that sold you the tables.