| MapBasic® |
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MapBasic® is the ideal programming language to create custom
MapInfo® applications, extend the functionality of MapInfo, automate
repetitive operations or integrate MapInfo with other applications.
MapBasic contains powerful statements that enable
you to add maps and geographic functionality to your applications
with only a few lines of code. MapBasic programs are easy to
integrate with applications written with such other programming
languages as Visual Basic®, C++, PowerBuilder® and Delphi.
MapBasic is a proven language with hundreds of third-party
applications on the market.
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| MapBasic® |
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| Tell Me More | ||
| MapBasic® |
MapBasic is a robust, structured BASIC-like language that enables
both experienced and novice programmers to create powerful
new desktop mapping applications. Whether you are creating
applications for resale or designing applications for use within your own
organization, MapBasic is an indispensable tool.
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| Build Custom User Interfaces |
As desktop mapping applications have become more widespread in
organizations, the need to build custom applications becomes
greater. Custom programs deliver powerful features in an easy-to-use
package because the power of desktop mapping can be focused on
the particular task. MapBasic can customize menus, tool bars, and
dialogues to make turnkey solutions to solve specific business tasks.
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| Integrate MapInfo |
Desktop mapping is most useful when it is integrated with other
business tools. MapBasic supports ODBC database
connectivity standard for connecting to databases. It supports OLE
automation and DDE so you can easily communicate with other applications.
For example, using Integrated Mapping techniques, you can integrate a map
window into your Visual Basic application -- with only five lines of code.
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| Extend MapInfo Functionality |
Unlike a scripting language, MapBasic is a multi-platform,
procedural, event-driven, compilable programming language built around
MapInfo. This architecture allows you to create additional features.
For example, you can add sophisticated models for planning
cellular antenna locations. MapBasic has powerful built-in
geographic statements and functions. A subset of the full ANSI
structured query language (SQL) set is built-in so you can use
industry-standard commands to manipulate data.
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| Easy to Learn |
Built on BASIC, MapBasic has familiar functions and statements.
MapInfo Professional® has a special window which lets you see
MapBasic commands being generated as you use MapInfo's
menus and you can try out your own commands. This way you can
learn MapBasic commands and even cut and paste them into your
application.
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| Development Environment |
MapBasic is a compiled language. The compiled programs you create
are run inside MapInfo Professional or special MapInfo runtimes.
The development environment provides a text editor that you can
use to write programs. If you already have a favorite text editor,
you can use that editor instead. MapBasic has facilities to handle
significant programming efforts. It supports project files which allows
you to compile and link separate modules.
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| Statements and Functions |
MapBasic contains over 300 statements and functions including:
Flow control: looping, branching sub-procedures, user-defined functions, event handlers, error handling. Connectivity: Call routines from DLLs. Communicate with other applications using DDE. Control MapInfo using DDE or OLE Automation. Access remote data sources through ODBC. User Interface: Create new menu bars, menus or menu items, remove items from existing menus. Create or modify buttons on tool bars. Create custom dialogue boxes with text boxes, drop down lists, buttons, check-boxes, radio buttons, style pickers, select boxes. Show or hide standard windows, control events on selection, map window changes, window closure, window focus change, button push, or application termination. Variables: local, global, numeric, string, logical, dates, and object variable types, arrays, custom data structures. Table and File Manipulation: Use Excel, Lotus® 1-2-3®, xBASE and ASCII files directly. Built-in SQL commands to query, sort, aggregate, join, and create derived data. (Supports select statements with FROM, WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY clauses with sub- selects). Supports equi-joins and geographic joins. Commit changes, roll-back changes. Connect to data via ODBC. Open, close, read, write to ASCII and binary files. Functions: String, data conversion, math, date, time, and geographic functions. Geographic object manipulation: create points, lines, polylines, text, polygons, buffers, etc. Edit and manipulate objects including reshape, object conversions, split, combine, erase. Calculate area, perimeter, length, centroid, area overlap. Modify object styles. Display maps from multiple layers, control display settings, create thematic maps. Find and geocode objects. Supports multiple coordinate systems. |
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| Create Custom Solutions |
Integrated Mapping using OLE Automation lets developers
integrate MapInfo Professional into applications written in common
programming languages such as Visual Basic,® PowerBuilder,® and C++.
MapBasic, the robust mapping programming language, lets developers create application-specific interfaces, add menus, options, features and functions, automate procedures, and integrate with other applications. Animate Layer lets MapBasic programmers display real-time data almost instantly, such as the instantaneous display of data relayed by a GPS unit. | |
| MapBasic Requirements |
Requires MapInfo Professional® 4.x or MapInfo® 3.0. MapBasic® is
available for: Windows 3.1, Windows® 95, Windows NT®, PowerMac®, Sun® or HP®.
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