Creating coordinate grid

[gasenngo]

Hi list,

Please share your twick on making coordinate grid in MapInfo.

For me I use the GridMaker tool, but this does not produce "ready
made" grid that meet cartographic standard. With coordinate not
generated as text but as attribute of a line, the process of -re-
creating coordinate text, chose font, rearrange text place and draw
extra decoration frame is very time consuming. Some time when making
simple map, the process of making an appropriate grid require more
time than the map making itself.

In ArcGis, once you finish the map, the grid is created automatically
with lots of choice for font, grid space, ticker, frame, option to
have both long/lat and meter grid, ect.

I'm a bit wonder how people in this forum, people who produce a lot of
map on the daily basic, use to generate "publishable standard"
coordinate grid.

Hoang Viet Anh
GIS&RS
Research Center for Forest Ecology and Environment, Vietnam
www.rcfee.org.vn

[Albert Tabino]

Hoang,
i am assuming that you are referring to spooling or printing views
(any correction acceptable)...

Check out the posted document "DraftV.2.doc" in the FILES section. On
the first page is MdlMap.MBX which is one of the tools that we use for
part of our model mapping...This one spools(prints out) approx. 15
(11x17) maps of different themes within less than 10 mins. We have an
ArcGIS version of this tool and it takes about 10 mins for each theme
to print. Our records shows that one of the highest volumes of maps we
have done is about 1800 maps in more or less 10 hours...(annual report
that includes individual work orders for sewer pipes) different views,
different scales, differenct scalebars, complete with sewer detail,
deficiency, etc.

We seldom use the gridmaker tool in creating print views...grids are
mostly used for analysis. Most of the time our spooling views are
dictated according to required output or client preference. Without
the grid object, coordinates are calculated programatically to set the
scale and location of a certain print view...this saves time because
you don't have to create the grid table and views are calculated on
the fly, and then you don't have to maintain the grid table
eternally... which also has the possibility of getting deleted,
overwritten, corrupted or lost . This approach provides the user with
flexibility in accomplishing mapping tasks and frees the user of
restrictions dictated by limitations of the grid object.

As far as labelling in the layout...layout templates have been
prepared and called in the routine accordingly...we do the same in
ArcGIS. In my opinion, standards vary from place to place...and maybe
our standards might not be acceptable to the "publishable standard"
that you have mentioned...regardless of software, the important thing
is to get the GIS job done..."nobody needs a sledge hammer to tack a
thumbtack". :)

Let us know what you think....regards,


Albert Tabino
Systems Analysis/GIS
Asset Systems Management
Bureau of Environmental Services
Portland, OR
alb...@bes.ci.portland.or.us
503-823-7225

[gasenngo]

Hello Albert,

Thanks for a very supportive reply. Your approach to generate on-the-
fly grid for printing view is very interesting. Creating 1800 layout
in 10 hours seem to be a terrific job. Is it possible to have trail
installation of the MdlMap.mbx

Having a real grid + text in the layout, however, is still a good
option: useful for creating FDF, export to publishing software, or
just to insert in a report. For this purpose I would like to hear
solution from others as well.

> albe...@bes.ci.portland.or.us

[Albert Tabino]

Hoang,

it doesn't need installation...all you need to do is run the program,
however, i don't believe it would run on your side. If you have
noticed on the document, the model mapper only requires a "wors"
directory which is a sub directory of a model result directory. The
model mapper does not only create maps but it also creates different
tables and files, statistics, etc. based on the model output and
stores output into predefined directories which enables the model
mapper routine to locate all necessary files for mapping and analysis.
The model mapper does accomodate PDF(raster) output by changing
default output from hard copy to electronic file..

If you need a MB spooler, it would be easier googling it since there
are a lots of free downloads available on this topic.
You might need to do some modifications to some of the code to meet
your intentded functionality. Most of them would have the same logic
as the grid printing in arcgis..i believe it's just a matter of set up
and organization of files.

Regards,

AlbertT

> >              503...       

>
> > On Jun 13, 7:35 am, gasenngo <hoangviet...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Hi list,
>
> > > Please share your twick on making coordinate grid in MapInfo.
>
> > > For me I use the GridMaker tool, but this does not produce "ready
> > > made" grid that meet cartographic standard. With coordinate not
> > > generated as text but as attribute of a line, the process of -re-
> > > creating coordinate text, chose font, rearrange text place and draw
> > > extra decoration frame is very time consuming. Some time when making
> > > simple map, the process of making an appropriate grid require more
> > > time than the map making itself.
>
> > > In ArcGis, once you finish the map, the grid is created automatically
> > > with lots of choice for  font, grid space, ticker, frame, option to
> > > have both long/lat and meter grid, ect.
>
> > > I'm a bit wonder how people in this forum, people who produce a lot of
> > > map on the daily basic, use to generate "publishable standard"
> > > coordinate grid.
>
> > > Hoang Viet Anh
> > > GIS&RS

> > > Research Center for Forest Ecology and Environment, Vietnamwww.rcfee.org.vn- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -