DeLorme Professional Weblog

Thematic maps are everywhere. Open a newspaper, browse the web, or turn on your TV, and there’s a good chance you will encounter a map that is intended to convey the spatial distribution of some sort of data. Examples might include election results, average temperatures, unemployment rates, or crime statistics. In the business world, thematic maps are used to analyze patterns in data or to quickly discern the location and nature of corporate assets as a means to enable quicker and more effective decision making. Thematic mapping is fundamental to GIS, so it is no surprise that the ability to create thematic maps is a key component of XMap.

One of the most straightforward ways to create a thematic map is to assign a unique color or symbol to all objects that share a common value. In theory, this process could be achieved using a manual selection and symbolization procedure. In other words, each object in a layer could be individually selected and its color or symbol style altered to match objects which have the same characteristic. Not only is this process time consuming, but it is also prone to error and extremely difficult to manage. Furthermore, after creating a thematic map using this method, there is no easy way to convey what each color or symbol is intended to represent.

A more effective and efficient method for creating a thematic map is to automatically assign colors or symbols based on a component of the attribute data that is associated with a layer. In XMap, this process is called classification.

Before applying a classification scheme to a layer, it is important to scrutinize your layer to determine if the required data is present. Does the information that you want to portray on the map currently exist as a field in your layer? If, for instance, you want to create a map showing population by county, does your county layer have a population field in the attribute table? If the required data is not present, you will need to create a field and enter the values in the attribute datasheet view or import and link an external file containing the data.

After determining that the required variables are present, you are ready to assign all of the objects in the layer to the appropriate class. To accomplish this, either right-click the layer name in the GIS Workspace table or select it and click the Tools button. In either case, select Classify from the resulting menu. By default, all of the objects in a layer are assigned to a Single Value class, so in the Classify Layer dialog box you will initially see that the class called All Records contains the total number of objects in the Layer.

XMap offers two options for developing a classification; which method to use depends on the type of data and the intended method establishing the classes or groups.

• A Unique Value classification is usually assigned to a field containing text values or one in which all of the records assigned to each class share an identical value. In such cases, the number of classes is automatically determined by the number of unique values that are found within the selected field. For instance, if the chosen field contains repeated instances of the words Small, Medium, and Large, the resulting classification would have three classes and all of the records in the layer would be automatically added to their appropriate class or group.
• Range classification can be applied only to a field containing numeric values. Unlike the Unique Value method, the records assigned to each class will not necessarily share identical values but instead they will fall within a user-determined minimum and maximum range. Both the number of classes and the extent of the values within each class are manually established using one of several pre-formulated mathematical methods. By default, the layer will be divided into five classes and the method of classification will be based on Equal Interval. This means that the range within each class will be the same for all five classes.

To apply a classification to a layer in the Classify Layer dialog box, first select the type (Unique Value or Range) then select the field to which the classification will be applied. The accompanying table will immediately display the total number of classes and the number of records or rows in each class. A default color or symbol scheme will be applied, but, as we will discuss later, a specific visual characteristic can be assigned to each class using the Symbolize function.
Both of the classification types offer various customization options for fine-tuning the classification structure:

• Additional classes can be manually added. This is especially useful for unique value classifications in cases where it is likely that additional records will be added to the layer and the anticipated new values are not contained within the existing classification.
• Classes can be deleted. Records that were assigned to the deleted class will be represented as null objects on the map.
• The order in which the classes are displayed can be customized.
• Each class label can be edited. This text will reflect what is displayed in the legend for the layer.
• The heading of the legend can be edited by clicking the Manage button and selecting Rename.
• For range classifications, the method for calculating the extent of each class can be adjusted or custom classes can be created by manually typing the Min and Max values in the results table. Additionally, the number of decimal places can be set by selecting from the Round At drop-down list.

Note that it is possible to create a classification within a newly created layer that does not yet contain any objects. Obviously the automatic class determination process will not work in this case, but each anticipated class can be manually added and as objects are later created or added to the layer, they will be automatically assigned to the appropriate class and will inherit the symbology of that class.

XMap offers the option of creating multiple classifications within a single layer so that the map display can reflect two different variables from within the attribute table. To create a second classification, click the Manage button and select New. The previous classification is preserved and the new default temporarily reverts to Single Value. After a second classification has been created, you can switch between the two by double-clicking the current classification name in the Workspace table and selecting the required classification from the drop-down list.

The Manage button also reveals the Classification Template feature that allows the structure of an existing classification to be saved and applied to a different layer.

Before exiting the Classify Layer dialog box, it is a good idea to run a checklist to determine if all of the necessary steps have been performed:

• Make sure the classification has been applied to the correct field.
• Check the legend labels.
• If necessary, edit the legend heading.
• Create additional fields in anticipation of future data additions.
• Verify the order of the classes.
• Save the classification template if required.

After clicking OK, the appearance of the objects on the map will be updated to reflect the classification and the pattern or distribution of each data element should be apparent. To accentuate this pattern, it is usually necessary to manually alter the default colors or symbols that were applied to each class. To do this, select Symbolize from the Tools menu.

Depending on the type of data, the Symbolize Layer dialog box offers the option to adjust the color, style, symbol, line weight, and opacity of each class as well as for null values. The null symbology will be assigned to objects in the layer for which the value in the field used for the classification falls out of the range of all of the classes or if the field contains no data. If a null field is edited to adhere to the classification parameters, the symbology will automatically update on the map.

The final step in creating a thematic map is to display the legend that explains to the user what each of the colors or symbols on the map represents. When the map is viewed onscreen, the legend is displayed in a floating window that is accessed from Tools menu in the Workspace. If you need to edit the legend heading or class labels, open the Classify Layer dialog box as described above and make whatever changes are necessary.

If the map in question is to be printed or exported to an image file, the legend is added as a component of the Layout Tools in the Print tab. Click and hold the Layout Tools button to expose the list of available options and select the key icon. From the Layer drop-down list, select the layer for which you want to display the legend and click the location on the map. The legend can be resized or repositioned as needed before printing.

Displaying your data as a thematic map is one of the most straightforward ways to perform a simple spatial analysis of your data. Applying symbols or colors to objects that share a common characteristic allows you to quickly discern patterns and trends in the data and is an invaluable tool in the decision-making process.

If you have a question that you would like to have answered in the DeLorme Professional Newsletter XMap Q&A section, send it to newsletter@delorme.com with XMap Q&A in the subject line.

Before answering this question, it is wise to consider another question: If I upgrade my computer, will my current version of XMap install and run on its operating system? Given that a new computer is likely to be running Windows 7 and the only versions of XMap that are supported on this platform are XMap 6.2 and XMap 7, a new computer may also necessitate an upgrade to the latest version of XMap. For more information on which versions of XMap can be installed on current and past editions of Windows, refer to the online compatibility chart.

Installing the Software
Assuming your copy of XMap is compatible with your new computer’s OS, you are now ready to replicate your XMap setup on the new computer. The first step is to install the software. A frequently asked question is whether a previously installed copy of XMap can be reinstalled on a different computer using the same license number. Each license number is assigned to a single user of the software, not to a specific computer. It is not a violation of the license agreement to reinstall XMap using the same license number on a different machine, with the understanding that, after the new version is operational, the original copy will be uninstalled from the old computer.

After installing the software, base map datasets such as XMap North America Topographic Data, can be installed from the original DVD. By installing the software and the data in that sequence, XMap will automatically register the data and the map features will be automatically displayed at every zoom level. If the software is installed after the data or if the data resides on a network location, you may need to manually point to the location to where it was installed using the Base Data function on the Map Data tab in the software. If required, the Phone Data can also be installed from the original disk.

Copying the DeLorme Docs Folders
During the installation of XMap, a series of folders is created within which all of the files generated by the software are stored. In older versions of the software, prior to version 6, these folders are located in the DeLorme Docs folder directly on the root of your local hard drive (typically the C drive). Newer versions of the software, in compliance with Microsoft® Windows® file management protocols, place a DeLorme Docs folder containing personal files, such as projects and draw layers, under My Documents, while shared files, such as symbol sets and certain imagery datasets can be found in a second DeLorme Docs folder under All Users or Public. This is an important consideration given that the transfer of data to your new computer may require you to copy files from both locations.

The easiest way to transfer this data to your new computer is to simply copy the entire DeLorme Docs folder or folders to a transferable drive or network location and from there, paste it into the same location on your new computer overwriting the existing DeLorme Docs folder and subfolders. After you launch XMap, you should be able to open all of your previously created projects. If you receive an error message while trying to open a project, it may be because a previously established data path has not been replicated in the new computer. If this is the case, you can rebuild a project by manually adding the required components using the Data > Add function in the Map Data tab. Note that GIS layers will be addressed separately (see below) and, initially, any project that refers to a GIS layer will not display this data.

Transferring Third-Party Imagery and Other Raster Files
If you stored any GeoTIFF or MrSID files on your old computer and these were referenced in your project files, you should try to copy them to the same location on your new computer. This ensures that the data will be automatically displayed when the project is opened. If this is not possible, or if you want to move these files to a new location, you will have to reestablish the data connection in each affected project using the Data > Add function as previously described.

Copying GIS Layers
This is the most challenging aspect of the data transfer process and the level of difficulty is dependent on the version of XMap being used and the volume of data to be transferred. Note that if GIS data resides on a central server or network database, the layers do not need to be copied. Instead, the newly installed version of XMap can be configured to connect to this database using the Manage function in the GIS Workspace. In the Manage Layers dialog box, choose Other from the Source Database dropdown list and enter your server details. After this connection has been established, the appropriate GIS layers will be automatically displayed in the projects to which they were assigned in the old computer.

Manually Copying Data from XMap GIS Enterprise or XMap GIS Editor
The most straightforward method for duplicating your GIS layers on your new computer is to manually export each layer in OpenSpace transfer format using the export function in the GIS tab Workspace. OpenSpace is the preferred format for this type of data transfer operation as it retains all of the characteristics of the original layer, including its symbolization, Z-level value, and so on. After the files are copied to the new computer, they can be manually imported into the local database using XMap’s import layer function. Alternatively, a command-line importer and exporter is available to streamline the export and import of the data. This tool is accessed from the Windows Start menu under Programs > DeLorme > XMap > Tools > XMap Bulk Importer-Exporter. Note that exporting GIS layers is not an available option in XMap Professional; see below for an alternative transfer method using Microsoft SQL Studio Management Express.

Transferring Layers Using a Direct Database Connection
Instead of manually exporting, transferring, and importing each layer, a direct database-to-database connection can be temporarily established if both the old and new computers share the same network. This allows layers to be quickly copied from one database to the other. The process of connecting databases can be carried out using either the old or the new computer. In either case, open the Manage Layers dialog box by selecting Manage in the Layers menu above the GIS Workspace. Under the Source Database drop-down list, select Other, and in the resulting dialog box enter the server details for your other installed version of XMap. A list of databases will appear and, after selecting the database containing the required layers, click the OK button. Back in the Manage Layers dialog box, a list of all of the layers in that database will be displayed on the left. Use the arrow buttons to add the required layers to the Workspace.

Now each layer can be copied into the database on the new computer. To do this, select the layer in the Workspace, click the Layers button, click Create, and select Copy Layer. Under the Target Database, choose the database on your new computer, delete the word “copy” from the default name for the new layer, and click OK. After completing the transfer of all of the required layers, the connection to the other database can be broken using the Remove Database button in the Manage Layers dialog box.

Transferring an Entire Database using Microsoft SQL Studio Management Express

For users of XMap Professional, this is the only viable option for transferring GIS layers from one computer to another. Before beginning, install SQL Studio Management Express on both the old and the new computers. This application is can be accessed from your XMap install disk or from here.

First follow these steps in your old computer to detach any required databases:

1. Launch the application by clicking the Start button, All Programs, Microsoft SQL, SQL Studio Management Express. The connection window should show your local server.
2. Click the Connect button.
3. After connecting to the local server, expand the databases on the left side.
4. Locate the database containing the required layers, right-click the database name, and select Task > Detach.
5. After the Database is detached, navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data and copy both the .mdf and .ldf files that correspond with the detached database.
6. Paste these files onto a removable drive or portable file transfer device.
7. Repeat this process for any additional databases.

Follow these steps on the new computer to attach the previously copied databases.

1. Transfer the previously copied .mdf and .ldf files from the removable drive into a folder on the new computer. It is a good idea to create a dedicated folder on the C:\ drive for this purpose.
2. Launch SQL Studio Management Express as described above.
3. Click the Connect button.
4. Expand the databases on the left side, right-click, and select Attach.
5. Navigate to the location of the previously created folder containing the .ldf and .mdf files
6. Select the file corresponding to the previously detached database and click OK.

In XMap, the Manage Layers function can now be used to access all of the layers from your transferred database.

Reactivating a Map Pack Subscription
Your MapPack subscription can be activated on two computers, so if you haven’t already reused your subscription number, you should be able to simply enter the same number as before in XMap’s NetLink tab. If you have already used this number twice, for instance on your previous desktop and laptop computers, or if the number is not accepted on your new computer, contact XMap support for a replacement.

A new computer brings with it both good and not so good. While your new machine will likely perform better than your old model and will offer more bells and whistles, the transition is seldom easy. All of the work that you have done in your old computer—the files you have created and organized and the personal configuration settings you have established—will all have to be recreated. Often a new computer means a whole new operating system and a steep learning curve to navigate. Using some of the steps outlined above, you should be up and running with XMap in no time and able to pick up right where you left off.

If you have a question that you would like to have answered in the DeLorme Professional Newsletter XMap Q&A section, send it to newsletter@delorme.com with XMap Q&A in the subject line.

This issue could be debated at length and the response will likely vary depending on who is being asked. Before proceeding, it is worthwhile that we first come up with an explanation for the phrase Geographic Information System. By individually considering the three components of the term, we can create a clear and concise definition.

The word Geographic obviously means that it relates to location; Information tells us that there is some sort of data related to that location; and, finally, System implies that we are dealing with more than just a map or even mapping software—but, rather, a multi-faceted process that allows us to consider the data in the context of its location. Therefore, a GIS is simply a system for analyzing information as it relates to location.

So can it be argued that a map generated using the Draw tools in XMap or any other DeLorme software is a GIS? Certainly the Draw tab provides a variety of tools placing points, lines, and polygons on the map and for customizing the symbolization of each object. What’s missing is the ability to assign data or attributes to these objects. The flag on the map might convey to the viewer that there is an item of interest at that location, but it will not paint the complete picture by offering access to the relevant data about that item.

In most cases, the step up from simple mapping to a fully-fledged GIS is fairly straightforward. If you have already taken the time to create a draw layer that shows the location of your data objects, you are halfway there. All you need to do is import the draw layer into the GIS tab in XMap, then either manually add as many different attribute fields as you need or, better yet, import and link existing data in such formats as Microsoft^® Excel, Access, or even text, and then automatically assign each row of data to the appropriate point.

Before long, you will realize the benefit of having your data geographically assigned in this way. Through processes such as classification and querying, you will be able to discern patterns in your data that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. Furthermore, data stored in a GIS format can be easily shared through a common database connection, within which permission settings will allow varying levels of access. This helps ensure that everyone in your organization has the latest versions of your data.

To read more about the benefits of a GIS click here.

If you have a question that you would like to have answered in the DeLorme Professional Newsletter XMap Q&A section, send it to newsletter@delorme.com with XMap Q&A in the subject line.

Anyone who has read recent editions of the DeLorme Professional Newsletter will hopefully be well aware of the data collection capability that XMap Forms enables in the desktop software and on the Earthmate PN-40. At the risk of beating a proverbial dead horse, full details can be found on the XMap Forms Web page. The intent of this article is not to regurgitate the same functional description of the procedure for developing and managing XMap Forms, but rather to outline which DeLorme products are needed to utilize the forms process.

Creating XMap Forms
First and foremost, you need a copy of XMap 7 GIS Enterprise or XMap 7 GIS Editor to create XMap Forms. However there is a caveat. XMap Forms can only be developed in a layer which resides within an Enterprise database, which can only be created using the Enterprise version of XMap. If, as a user of XMap GIS Editor, you have access to such as database within your company or organization, you are all set. If you are a standalone Editor user, you will need to upgrade to Enterprise to create XMap Forms.

If your intended use of XMap Forms entails simply creating forms as a convenient mechanism for adding, deleting, or editing records in your own layers, you need read no further. XMap provides all you need. If, on the other hand, you intend to deploy XMap Forms to your field technicians or mobile workforce, or if you plan on collaborating with other XMap users through the use of XMap Forms, read on.

XMap Forms on the Earthmate PN-40
As previously noted, XMap forms can be used on the Earthmate PN-40 or in XMap. If you intend to use the handheld GPS receiver for data collection, you need to purchase a device for each user. However a single copy of XMap can be employed to distribute forms and any corresponding data to multiple PN-40s and subsequently to upload and manage field-collected records. Typically this process is initiated by individually connecting each device via the included USB cable to the computer on which XMap is installed. Data collected remotely can also be emailed in gpx format to the administrator and manually merged into the master GIS layer.

XMap Forms in XMap Professional
It should be noted that XMap Professional cannot be used to create or manage XMap Forms. Forms created with the Enterprise or Editor versions of the software can be used in XMap Professional. The only way that form-based data collection or editing can be initiated in XMap Professional is through the layer synchronization process. In other words, if you simply export an Openspace layer in which a form has been created, and import that layer into XMap Professional, the form will not be accessible and data cannot be edited in any way. In order to unlock the form, a valid forms license must be purchased for each end-user. This small investment significantly increases the value of XMap Professional by transforming it from a GIS data viewer to a field data collector and editor.

XMap Forms licenses are administered through the Database Manager, which also controls access to synchronized layers for each user. A company will typically purchase a forms license for each copy of XMap Professional, however it is also possible to reassign a license to a different XMap user, which in turn will disable the forms functionality for the original user.

To summarize, XMap Forms functionality in XMap Professional requires a copy of the Enterprise edition of the software to establish synchronization and to create the form, a copy of XMap Professional for each end-user, and a forms license.

XMap Forms in XMap GIS Editor or XMap GIS Enterprise
Unlike with XMap Professional, layers containing XMap Forms can be manually shared among users of the Enterprise and Editor versions of the software without the need for synchronization or a forms license. If a layer containing a form is exported in Openspace format, this layer and the accompanying form will be available to anyone using XMap GIS Editor or Enterprise.

XMap Forms provides a user-friendly facade for your GIS layers and significantly simplifies the process of remotely collecting and editing GIS data. In certain instances, XMap Forms can be used right out of the box. If forms capability is to be utilized by a remote workforce make sure you include the required forms licenses in your purchase.

For more information and pricing, visit www.xmap.com/forms or call 1-800-293-2389

As the United States enters the next phase of recession recovery, most organizations and businesses will be struggling with budget limitations. We believe DeLorme provides the most outstanding Geospatial value available on the market today—GIS software, GPS devices, & base map data.

Large field force organizations—those with more than 500 mobile laptop stations—may require special licensing arrangements to support geospatial requirements, such as:

• Disconnected GPS navigation and GIS work
• Mobile views of the organization’s GIS infrastructure
• Field data collection and GIS database synchronization
• Special discounts on Earthmate PN-Series GPS receivers

DeLorme has several options that can assist in budget management and planning and to help to control costs.

Corporate Licensing–Consider a licensing arrangement that allows flexible installations of all XMap software and data tiers across your organization for an annual fee. Corporate licensing provides your IT group with flexible installation allowances, more powerful XMap GIS functionality for advanced users, and establishes reasonable expense planning over multiple budget cycles.

True-Up Program–Some companies prefer a “pay-as-you-grow” option.  Under a True-Up program, large installations of XMap can be initiated at a buy-in bulk quantity discount. Every 90 days, the XMap administrator reports to DeLorme any additional installations that occurred during that period and pays for those installations under standard payment terms and at the rate of the original buy-in.

If you have interest in a flexible licensing program for your organization please contact a DeLorme sales representative today—prosales@delorme.com.

There is no technical limitation that restricts the use of XMap or the Earthmate PN- 40 GPS receiver to use in the United States. Courtesy of the United States Department of Defense, a reliable GPS signal can be used to establish a precise positional fix virtually anywhere on the surface of the planet at any time. XMap and the PN-40 can therefore be used to monitor location, track movement, and accurately create waypoints or other draw objects no matter where in the world you are located.

In practical terms, however, the most significant impediment to using DeLorme mapping technology outside of the U.S. has, until recently, been the availability of map datasets. This barrier is slowly disintegrating and there are now several avenues for non-U.S. XMap users to view, import, or create base map data:

• XMap World Base Map
  Skilled cartographers at DeLorme recently embarked on an ambitious project to create the first seamless, consistent, accurate, and up-to-date base map for the entire world. This effort culminated in the XMap World Base Map, a vector-based dataset incorporating an extensive GPS-navigable road network, geographic and hydrographic features, land cover information, elevation, and much more. For information on purchasing this dataset, call 1-800-293-2389, or e-mail prosales@delorme.com.

• Locally Available GIS data
  GIS professionals within the U.S. have access to countless data libraries and archives from which thousands of data layers, both raster and vector, can be downloaded, usually at no charge. Such publicly accessible data repositories are becoming increasingly common throughout the rest of world as government agencies and educational institutions recognize the value in encouraging the application of spatial technology. In these archives, XMap users can usually find compatible data in the form of shapefiles, GeoTIFFs, or other common GIS formats.
• Scanned and Registered Paper Maps
  Often considered a last resort if no preexisting datasets are available, the ImageReg function in XMap provides a straightforward means to convert a standard image file into a raster GIS layer. The obvious benefit of this approach is that any local map or aerial image that is either in a standard image file format or that can be scanned is compatible. The positional accuracy of the final dataset depends on the precision with which the anchor coordinate points are established and, obviously, on the accuracy of the original map itself.
• Canadian Topographic Maps from the Map Library
  If your foray into foreign lands takes you no further than our neighbors to the north, XMap has you covered. The Map Library subscription now includes unlimited downloads of Canadian topographic maps derived from the 1:50,000 series. These high-quality maps are available from the U.S. border to beyond the Arctic Circle.
• XMap’s Embedded Reference Data
  If you have ever clicked the pan button in XMap a few too many times or imported a coordinate dataset without first checking to see if the longitude values had the requisite minus sign or West designation, you may have found yourself, or at least your map view, in some remote corner of the world. You may also have noticed that the map is not blank, at least up to zoom level 6. Embedded in all versions of XMap is worldwide Reference Dataset that, while not detailed enough to allow you to plan a hike in the Himalayas, will, with the aid of an attached GPS, let you know if you are currently in Kathmandu or Khartoum.

XMap users within the U.S. have become accustomed to the integrated high-quality topographic and street level datasets that are the foundation upon which XMap projects are built. Not only does DeLorme design and develop the software, we also create and manage the map datasets themselves; a truly unique amalgamation of spatial technologies. With the release of the XMap World Base Map, this synthesis of maps and software is now available worldwide, supplemented by locally available GIS layers and other data. XMap and the Earthmate PN-40 are therefore truly global mapping tools.

The most important distinction between the document embedding functionality in XMap 6 and XMap 7 is that in the newer version  documents can be opened, edited, and saved in the XMap OpenSpace database.

Document embedding was first introduced to the XMap suite in version 5 and it was intended as a tool for assigning a file, such as a photograph or a schematic diagram, to an object on the map. To accommodate this process, a new type of attribute field was developed that offered the option to upload the document or file and store it in the database.

Anyone with access to this layer—either locally, through OpenSpace file transfer, or synchronization—could open the file by clicking the appropriate cell in the attribute table. This one-way file distribution process did not permit the file to be edited and embedded again, so the recipient of the layer would be required to manually send any updated files to the data administrator as an e-mail attachment.

During the initial discussions of the feature requirements for XMap 7, embedded document editing was one of the first items added to the must have list. Additionally it was decided that the management of embedded documents should not limited to the attribute table but should also be available by clicking an object on the map. A new right-click feature now offers the option to upload, open, edit, save, or delete a file that is associated with the selected point, line, or polygon.

This list of options is available in all versions of XMap 7, so that even a field worker using XMap Professional can upload an image or complete a spreadsheet report and save it to a local database in preparation for synchronization to the data administrator.

Embedded documents can also be efficiently managed within an XMap form [link to Forms article]. If a document field is added to a form, buttons are displayed for editing, deleting, or uploading a file and the file name itself is added to the form as a hyperlink. If an image is uploaded to a document field, the actual image will be displayed in the form.

Another new feature in XMap 7 is the option to establish an initial or default value for an attribute field. As each new object is added to the layer, this initial value is automatically assigned, which can save time by eliminating repeated steps. An initial value can even be established for a document field so that as each new item is created, a new copy of a standard document or report is assigned to the record instead of having to be manually uploaded each time.

Practical uses for the new document embedding functionality include:

• Uploading and archiving photographs associated with objects in a GIS layer
• Distributing a standard report associated with each record and automatically collecting the completed report using XMap’s synchronization process
• Cataloging data that cannot be easily assigned to existing GIS attributes
• Associating plans, diagrams, or drawings with asset locations

Document embedding adds an extra dimension to GIS management by providing access to pertinent files in a geographic context. The new editing feature significantly enhances this functionality by streamlining the collection, storage and retrieval of location-based information.