XMap Q&A — I have been using the embedded document tool in XMap 6 — what’s different in version 7?

November 13, 2009 by xmap

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.

Doc_menuDuring 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.

Forms_DocEmbedded 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.

Tab Tip – Using XMap Forms to Collect or Edit GIS Data in the Field

November 13, 2009 by xmap

The all-new XMap Forms feature is without doubt the single most important addition to the XMap 7 suite. Designed as a simple and affordable tool for viewing, collecting, and editing GIS data in the field, XMap Forms can be created for use on a PC or on the Earthmate PN-40 handheld GPS receiver.

Well_Inspection_FormAn XMap form provides a user-friendly interface for displaying the attributes assigned to an object in a GIS layer or for recording new point locations and their associated attribute information. To simplify this data collection process and to ensure data accuracy and consistency, the data administrator can establish drop-down lists or check boxes as an alternative to manual text entry. Field-collected or edited data is automatically merged or integrated into the originating GIS layer through XMap’s innovative two-way synchronization process or the PN-40’s Exchange function.

XMap Forms is fully compatible with all versions of XMap 7 including the affordable XMap Professional. To enable form-based data viewing or collection, the XMap Professional user must purchase a separate XMap Forms license. This license, which is available by calling the XMap sales team at 1-800-239-2389, significantly increases the value of the software by transforming its GIS functionality from simple data viewing to powerful data collection.

Creating an XMap Form
An XMap form is generated from a GIS layer that has been created in or imported into an XMap Enterprise database. Therefore, before beginning the process of developing or managing XMap Forms, you need to have access to a copy of XMap 7 GIS Enterprise.

The process of designing a form begins by creating or importing a GIS layer and adding all of the required attribute fields. XMap’s new attribute constraints functionality can be applied to new or existing attribute fields to ensure that only predetermined values can be entered during the data collection process. Depending on the data type, constraints can take the form of a drop-down list, a check box implying true or false, or a numeric range. Any data that falls outside the constraint limits will be flagged as invalid allowing the data administrator to edit the data or modify the constraint as needed.

When all of the required attributes and constraints have been established, the XMap form is created in the Create New Form dialog box. This window is accessed from the Tools menu in the GIS Workspace by right-clicking the appropriate layer or by using the Forms button in the toolbar. When creating a form, there are several configuration settings that need to be established:

  • Will the form be used in XMap or on the PN-40? A PN-40 form cannot be used in XMap or vice versa.
  • Is the form for adding new points or just for updating existing attributes?
  • Can existing objects be deleted using a form?
  • Which attributes from the layer should appear on the form and in what order?

When creating a form for use on the PN-40, only point layers are supported and there are certain attribute field types, for example, document fields, which are not compatible and will therefore not appear in the available attributes list.

Each XMap form is individually named and saved as an extension of the corresponding openspace GIS layer so any edits, additions, or deletions made using the form either in XMap or on the PN-40 will eventually be applied to the host layer.

When using an XMap form for data collection, as opposed to data editing, the layer from which the form is created is typically empty to begin.

Transferring a Form Using Database Synchronization
For individual use, an XMap form can be employed to add or update information in a local database using either XMap GIS Enterprise or XMap GIS Editor. In such a case, updating the attributes using a form has the same effect as making edits directly to the attribute table in XMap. To enable remote data collection or editing, the data administrator must utilize XMap’s synchronization process to automatically send a copy of the layer and the corresponding form or forms to one or more XMap users, to whom an XMap Forms license has been assigned. Refer to the XMap Admin Guide for more information on setting up the synchronization process.

When enabled, data synchronization is initiated by the recipient of the data, typically before heading into the field. A simple click of a button in XMap’s toolbar initially downloads the contents of a layer and each time thereafter, checks for any changes or additions that have been made to the layer.

Sending a Form to the Earthmate PN-40
XMap forms and the corresponding GIS layers are transferred from XMap to the PN-40 using a direct exchange procedure within the GIS tab. Either right-click the layer name or click the Send Layer button in the toolbar to transfer the file to the SD card in the device, making sure that the Connect to Computer setting on the PN-40 is first set to Transfer to SD Card. Alternatively, the layer and form can be saved to local folder and manually copied to an SD card which can subsequently be sent to a PN-40 user.

On the PN-40, the XMap form is activated from the Waypoints screen by pressing the Menu button, selecting File, and then choosing Open.

Collecting Data using a Form
The procedure for collecting data is very straightforward using either XMap or the PN-40. In XMap the form is displayed as a floating window and includes buttons to place a new object at the current GPS position, at the map center or manually. When an object is added or an existing object is selected, the attribute fields in the form are activated and the appropriate data can be entered.

PN_FormOn the PN-40, clicking the Waypoint button creates a new point at the current GPS location or at the position of the cursor on the map screen. The editable form then automatically appears and the required data is entered in each available field. When the data collection task is complete, it is important to save the collected or edited points back to the SD card in preparation for merging into the host layer. The process is performed by pressing the Menu button when the Waypoints screen is displayed, selecting File, and then choosing Save.

Integrating Field-Collected Data into XMap
The data synchronization process has been upgraded in XMap 7 to allow the transfer of data both to and from remote XMap users. Consequently, the action of clicking the Synchronize button previously described will automatically integrate data collected using an XMap Form into the originating layer.

The process for downloading data from the PN-40 is equally straightforward. In XMap, simply right-click the name of the host layer and choose Import from PN-Series Device or click the Import Layer from PN button in the toolbar. Any additional points or data edits will be applied to the OpenSpace Layer.

The XMap Forms functionality significantly enhances the value of XMap at every level. Corporate data administrators can now efficiently update GIS databases with direct input from remote users; standalone GIS managers can simplify data input ensuring accuracy and consistency; field workers can collect pertinent information at the jobsite using a simple onscreen form in XMap Professional or on the PN-40 and can quickly submit their findings to the data manager.

What’s New in XMap 7?

November 13, 2009 by xmap

The XMap 7 suite includes a wide array of new and improved mapping and GIS functions in the desktop software and on the Earthmate PN-40 GPS receiver.
Sewer_Form
New Features

  • XMap Forms:
    New data collection and editing tool for XMap and Earthmate PN-40 (for more information, click here)
  • Two-way data synchronization:
    Automatically send data to XMap users in the field and integrate edits and additions into a corporate GIS database
  • Advanced document embedding:
    Assign a file to a GIS object on the map; open, edit, and save the file before synchronizing it back to the data administrator (for more information, click here)

Attribute Management Improvements

  • Attribute constraints:
    Establish rules that govern which attribute values can be assigned to an object when gathering or editing data
  • Improved attribute field creation:
    Choose simple, formula, or constrained field
  • Initial value for new a new field:
    Simplify data input by establishing default attribute values for each new object in a layer
  • User-defined decimal precision:
    Select the number of decimal places when creating or editing a number field
  • Data type editing:
    Change the data type for any compatible attribute field
  • Many-to-one attribute linking:
    Import additional attributes and assign a recurring attribute to multiple objects in a layer
  • Unlinked record reporting:
    Save information on unmatched or duplicated records when linking external attributes

Edge_Matching

CAD and Feature Display Improvements

  • Edge matching:
    Automatically replicate the boundary of a polygon when creating an adjacent polygon
  • Zero and negative buffering:
    Create a buffer of zero dimension to merge multiple polygons into a single object
  • Multi-point deleting:
    Select multiple shape points in a line or polygon object and delete them all at one time
  • New default symbology for GIS layers:
    Bright yellow color ensures maximum visibility against all types of base maps
  • Updated symbol set:
    New industry symbols, including wind turbine and oil derrick, for use in XMap and on the PN-40

Other GIS Improvements

  • Expanded geocoding format compatibility:
    Import point databases with UTM or SPCS coordinates
  • New latitude/longitude display:
    Geographic coordinates are now automatically added as an attribute for all point layers
  • Simpler object deleting:
    Delete multiple objects on the map or in the attribute table
  • Improved layer classification:
    Classification name defaults to name of the field that was used to create the classification
  • KML format support:
    Export and display your GIS objects in Google Earth™ or Google Maps™ mapping services
  • Enhanced GIS layer management:
    New option settings to zoom to extent of layer when importing, limit the number of objects that can be displayed, and more
  • Improved query result management:
    Attribute table set to display filtered query results by default

XMap/PN-40 Improvements

  • Redesigned Handheld Export tab:
    Copy individual GIS layers to the PN-40 so each can be independently controlled on the device
  • Direct exchange of data between XMap’s GIS tab and the PN-40:
    Automatically send point layers and XMap Forms to the device and merge changes into the original layer
  • Streamlined map package creation for GIS layers:
    Automatically select the grid coverage to capture  all objects in a layer
  • Updated PN-40 firmware:
    View, edit, and collect GIS data using XMap Forms; transfer, manage, and save GPX files on the PN-40’s SD card

Other XMap Improvements

  • Improved GPS Radar Search:
    Search for objects in a GIS layer within a defined radius of your current location and update the search results as you drive
  • New World Map dataset:
    Seamless global base map developed at a scale of 1:250,000
  • Updated Welcome Screen:
    Provides quick and easy access to your XMap projects as well as direct links to pertinent Help files.

Notes from the Director – DeLorme Releases XMap 7

November 13, 2009 by xmap

XMap7_IconThe XMap team at DeLorme is pleased to announce that the XMap 7 suite is now available. Over the last several months, the software design, development, and testing groups have been working long hours to craft what we feel is the most significant upgrade to the XMap product suite to date.

As with all previous XMap releases, much of the impetus behind the new feature list can be attributed to current XMap customers and users. You asked for more powerful field data collection, we developed XMap Forms for laptop- or GPS-based information gathering; you asked for a world base map, we created the first seamless, consistent, global vector dataset; you asked for improved interoperability between XMap and the handheld Earthmate PN-40 GPS receiver, we redesigned the map cutting process and provided direct exchange of GIS layers with the device; and much more.

November’s DeLorme Professional Newsletter comes after a short hiatus during which all available hands, including those of the marketing and sales team, were assigned to the XMap 7 development and release process. Now that the newsletter is back, we’re delighted to be able to share some of the details of the XMap 7 suite. Read on to find out about several significant new features and improvements to some of XMap’s core functionality and you could even win your own Earthmate PN-40 GPS receiver and a copy of XMap 7 Professional.

Geoffrey Ives
Director of Professional Sales

XMap Q&A—What are the main differences between XMap and Topo USA, and will XMap offer any additional functionality when used with my PN-40 GPS Receiver?

August 12, 2009 by xmap

Since the introduction of the PN-Series GPS receivers over two years ago, DeLorme’s customer service representatives have helped countless customers determine which of these two software titles best suits their needs. Long-time subscribers to the DeLorme Professional Newsletter may recall that we addressed this same issue in a late 2007 edition; however, as the question is still being posed, it is worth revisiting this topic.

To begin, let us quote from the 2007 article:

“Both XMap 5.2 and Topo USA can be used to transfer maps and data to and from the PN-20, however there are key differences between these two software packages that reflect the intended use for each product.

Topo USA was developed as a recreational mapping software product and it excels for such applications as hiking, biking, hunting and off-road navigation. Combined with the PN-20 it offers a powerful set of tools for planning and undertaking virtually any backcountry adventure.

XMap, which includes all of the features and functions of Topo USA, was designed to specifically meet the needs of the professional user and it achieves this by offering several mechanisms for integrating third party data into the software.”

3D_SLCWhile the XMap and Topo USA have been significantly upgraded since 2007, the fundamental distinctions remain the same. Topo USA is intended for recreational use and XMap has been designed for professional applications.

Both products contain the same core mapping functionality and include many of the same features and functions including routing, drawing and annotation, 3-D terrain modeling and much more. Because there are such similarities and common functionality, the upgrade path is a painless one for Topo USA users who want to take their mapping to the next level.

For most users, XMap Professional—the entry level edition of the suite—is a perfect stepping stone from recreational mapping to more advanced spatial technology. So what data does XMap Professional support that is not compatible with Topo USA?

  • Shapefiles
    The most common GIS file format, shapefiles are freely downloadable from thousands of online data libraries. Shapefiles can depict property boundaries, nesting sites, schools, subway lines or almost any imaginable geographic feature.Subway
  • XMap OpenSpace files
    DeLorme’s GIS format offers a simple way to share data layers with other XMap users. DeLorme provides several free OpenSpace layers for download including Township, Range, and Section boundaries, ZIP Code polygons, and NGS Benchmarks.
  • Scanned or digital versions of paper maps
    Using XMap’s ImageReg tool, you can import an image, such as a scanned map or aerial photograph, and precisely align and scale it to create a geographically referenced map layer.
  • Third-party aerial imagery
    Many national, regional, or local government agencies offer aerial imagery or other raster data at no charge. The most common formats for this imagery are GeoTIFF and MrSID, both of which are supported by XMap. As an example, all of the topographic maps for Canada can be downloaded from the Canadian government and can be viewed in XMap.
  • Your data
    XMap offers a geocoding tool that gives you the ability to import spreadsheets, databases, and even text files that contain a location component, such as a street address or coordinates. Each record is represented by a user-selectable symbol and is positioned at the correct point on the map.

All of these map layers can be transferred to the Earthmate PN-Series GPS receivers and can be displayed alongside DeLorme’s renowned topographic maps and Map Library layers.

XMap also includes a number of functional advances when compared to Topo USA:

  • Phone Search which offers searchable access to over 150 million phone records for the U.S. and Canada.
  • Voice-controlled navigation and voice recognition capability, allowing you to control certain features of the software using verbal commands.
  • Map feature customization including user-selectable contour intervals, shaded relief control, and flexible dual map windows.
  • Advanced layering functionality, allowing selected map features to be displayed on top of aerial imagery

In XMap, you will find all of the features and functions you love about Topo USA enhanced with an array of powerful mapping tools that help you make maps like a pro.

Reseller Spotlight

August 12, 2009 by xmap

This month, we continue our reseller spotlight feature by looking at a recent addition to DeLorme’s VAR (Value Added Reseller) network. Data Directions, based in Eugene, Oregon, not only offers a full range of DeLorme’s software and hardware but also provides a wealth of expertise in the application of location technology for natural resources professionals.

Tony Cooley, Data Directions Principal, who recently received his Geographic Information Systems Professional certification by meeting the standards for ethical conduct and professional practice as established by the GIS Certification Institute, shares some information about his company.

DDLogoData Directions has been providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for forestry and natural resources management applications since 1992. Clients are located throughout the Pacific Northwest and manage anywhere from a few thousand to more than a million acres of resources. The solutions provided are tailored to meet the individual client’s needs and often intermix a variety of software and hardware products.   The XMap GIS product line works well as a cost effective, feature-rich solution for the smaller clients and with the addition of the PN-Series GPS units, XMap also fits in well as a component of larger, enterprise-level GIS implementations.

“The PN-Series GPS units coupled with the XMap software enable our clients to view and reference their detailed GIS vector layers, as well as custom imagery in the field.   The ability to load GIS layers for property lines and private road systems onto the GPS units is invaluable,” said Cooley. “The units work quite well under the canopy of the northwest forests.  With the release of the PN-40 ESRI Extension, importing field collected data used for harvest or stand treatment planning is now virtually effortless.  We have found that XMap integrates well into GIS departments which are ESRI or MapInfo based.”

Data Directions provides GIS system software sales, consultations, systems analysis, user support, training, and applications development. Additional services include GIS data acquisition, conversion, creation, and integration. Data Directions specializes in integrating the XMap software and PN-Series GPS units with existing GIS installations or deploying XMap GIS as the primary system for clients with limited budgets. For more information on the services Data Directions performs please visit their web page at: www.datadirections.biz.

If you are interested in the application of XMap within a particular industry, you are encouraged to contact an appropriate Value-Added Reseller directly. If would like more information about becoming an XMap VAR, please contact the XMap team at 1-800-293-2389 or email prosales@delorme.com

Notes from the Director

August 12, 2009 by xmap

In mid July, Geoffrey Ives, DeLorme’s Director of Professional Sales, flew to San Diego for the 2009 ESRI User Conference along with a number of key DeLorme staff members. DeLorme’s attendance at this event was significant for many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that DeLorme had recently become an ESRI Business Partner. The following was written by Geoffrey shortly after his return.

What I Learned at DeLorme’s First ESRI User Conference

A few weeks ago, DeLorme Publishing Company, Inc., a new ESRI Business Partner, exhibited at the 2009 ESRI User Conference in San Diego. For DeLorme, the conference was a great success and provided the DeLorme professional sales group with hundreds of sales leads for the DeLorme World Base Map data and the Earthmate PN-40 handheld GPS receiver. But, clearly, there was more to the conference than just a list of sales opportunities.

ESRI_UCWe were told that attendance at the conference was down from previous years. That may be or may not be true, but from my perspective (our booth was swamped), the level of attendance— in light of the economic downturn—seemed indicative of the growing acceptance of GIS into mainstream government and business processes.  I’m talking low-level, basement of the rural town hall where you register your car, acceptance here.

DeLorme has exhibited at eight national conferences this year and at all of them, with the single exception of the American Wind Energy Association conference in Chicago, attendance was significantly off.  And they have all been peppered with job seekers and struggling job holders seeking a better life, which means attendees are less interested in stuff to buy and more interested in jobs and new time-saving processes. The ESRI User Conference was no exception.

In the current economic climate, most of us are stretching our daily job parameters to absorb additional tasks and responsibilities. Across the nation, ten percent of us have lost our jobs.  Those of us fortunate enough to retain a job suffer from the need to fill the process vacuums left by the now unemployed or re-employed.  It forces us all to rethink our relationship with work; to reassess our futures, our company objectives, our careers, our family’s security, and the trade shows we attend.

The ESRI User Conference plenary session highlighted multiple and critical global crises, in part to emphasize the positive impact of GIS on disaster management and future planning (let’s face it, unless you’ve got your head in the sand, we’re up against nothing less than planet-wide disaster), but also to target an audience of over twelve thousand with a message of “yes we can” in the face of all this darkness. During the afternoon keynote speeches, I emotionally cycled between ‘springing’ all of the apes from the San Diego Zoo and rushing home to build geospatial models that clearly identify the guilty parties. Of course, the quintessential US consumer (i.e., me) is the guilty party in one way or another. I could check Google for the nearest EZ-Rent-A-Van to the convention center.  Although I’d likely end up in the hospital; a data point within some public safety GIS showing statistically that a middle-aged US professional dad cannot transport arboreal apes in a rented van without risking serious personal injury; my well-intended personal protest not helping orangutans one bit.

“Where exactly was he going with all those primates?,” the responding trooper would ask my wife.

“I really don’t know officer. You see his Blackberry isn’t fully charged. Know what I mean?” she responds, filing her nails. “You should see how he loads the dish washer.”

“We understand Ma’m.”

Leaving the personal drama behind, I spoke with an estimated three or four hundred GIS users during the week. What I heard, again and again, was that many had suggested to their bosses that, due to the economy, they skip the ESRI UC this year. After all, San Diego is “Junket-Land” where, by itself, eating will obliterate a per diem living allowance. What was interesting to me was how so many small organizations, like budget constrained towns, told their GIS people, “No. We want you to go because you always bring back money-saving tools and new ideas.”

That seemed to be the ultimate evidence that GIS has truly become a critical component of mainstream business processes. For a small Maine town to fund a GIS manager’s trip to San Diego for a week is really quite amazing especially in light of shrinking municipal budgets. And for elected officials to recognize the benefits of GIS clearly speaks to the intrinsic value geospatial technology is now expected to provide.

Sure geospatial technology is cool. GPS navigation, on-line parcel maps, satellite views of Nana’s  house—these are all great things—but to generate actionable intelligence out of maps and location data can be life, and hopefully, planet saving.  It’s one thing for a federal agency to recognize GIS benefits through a cadre of analysts applying the best tools in the business but something entirely new to find that GIS value is being touted by an elected official from rural America. GIS benefits are now recognized by smaller jurisdictions through both ROI analysis and plain common sense.

In San Diego I learned that ESRI business partners may actually be part of something bigger than creating and selling product. We’re providing tools that empower solutions to global problems.  To do so we need to survive and flourish as a business community. That means balancing competition with collaboration, taking risks and pushing innovation, sharing and investing, all while developing value for our customers. As businesses, we’re no good to anyone if we don’t survive. So congratulations to those of you surviving this economy. It is no small achievement and we all need all the help we can get.

So perhaps there is hope. That’s what Jack Dangermond’s message seemed to be at the plenary wrap-up. We’re living through a dark time but there is hope, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” GIS as a “Geo-Design” tool, can help educate and inform those in power, from local towns to national governments, to make the critical decisions necessary to help turn our planet around.

The problem, according to Mr. Dangermond, is nothing short of saving our world for our children. Geospatial technology has come of age just in time to help guide and inform the critical decision makers of the world.

Will GIS save the world? Who knows? I know it won’t happen without intelligent planning, cross cultural collaboration, sacrifice and guts. But I have faith that the GIS community at large is better at saving the world than your average, middle-aged dad is at loading the dish washer.

DeLorme Releases Free NGS Benchmark Data for XMap

August 12, 2009 by xmap

DeLorme is pleased to announce the availability of NGS (National Geodetic Survey) benchmark data for XMap. These OpenSpace files, organized by state, can be downloaded for free and are compatible with all versions of XMap 5 or newer.

Benchmarks1A benchmark is a geographic point whose coordinates and/or elevation has been measured and recorded to a high level of accuracy. Benchmarks are used by surveyors, engineers, map makers, and other professionals who need a highly accurate positional reference for their work. Recently, locating benchmarks has also become a popular pastime for the geocaching community.

Each benchmark or geodetic control station has a precise latitude/longitude used for horizontal control or a precise orthometric height used for vertical control or both a horizontal and vertical control.

The XMap data is comprised of individual OpenSpace layers created for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, based on data downloaded from the NGS benchmark archive files. Recent benchmark additions can be downloaded directly from the NGS website and appended to the appropriate XMap OpenSpace layer using the Import… Append function of XMap GIS Editor or XMap GIS Enterprise.

The benchmark layers have been classified and symbolized to distinguish horizontal and vertical benchmarks. Additionally, a unique symbol has been assigned to benchmarks that are considered both horizontal and vertical control points. Each layer includes four pre-defined queries that can be run from within the Attribute subtab of XMap: Search by County, Search by ID number, Search by Benchmark name, and Search by USGS Quad. The results of these queries are highlighted on the map and in the attribute table.

Each benchmark includes over 35 attribute fields, including its name, date established, and condition. Additionally, each point on the map is labeled with the benchmark ID number, which also serves as a hyperlink to the complete online datasheet for that control point.

As with all GIS layers in XMap, the benchmarks can be transferred to the PN-Series GPS receivers for field use. On the device, the objects that appear as labeled points on the screen are searchable using the Find function.

The availability of the benchmark data in XMap format is further evidence of DeLorme’s commitment to providing powerful geospatial tools and data in a cost-effective way, making GIS technology accessible to everyone.

The DeLorme Professional Newsletter – Summer Edition

August 12, 2009 by xmap

SunIf you’re worried that you missed a month of this venerable publication, fear not. This is a combined July/August edition; let’s call it a bumper summer special. Read on to find out about a new free data offering for XMap users, an intro to an XMap reseller in the Pacific Northwest, a rare missive from DeLorme’s Professional Sales Director about his experience at the ESRI User Conference, and, of course, a chance for you to test your geographic knowledge and maybe win a copy of XMap with a GPS receiver in the latest Where on Eartha challenge.

Tab Tip – Building a Query in XMap

June 26, 2009 by xmap
A version of this article was originally penned for the April 2007 edition of the DeLorme Professional Newsletter. When it was suggested that we include an updated revision for the June 2009 edition, it transpired that most of the original content still applies. So, with apologies to long-time subscribers, the following article is recycled.
The query function, which is included in both the Enterprise and Editor versions of XMap, offers both attribute and spatial querying. Queries are used to quickly identify specific records in your data and to uncover the spatial relationship between objects within different data layers. Note that queries that have been built using Enterprise or Editor are transferred with the corresponding openspace layer or through the synchronization process to users of XMap Professional. However XMap Professional cannot be used to create a query.
Read More…
A query is built by following a few simple steps:
1. After clicking the Query button on the left side of the GIS tab, select the layer to be queried from the Layer drop-down list.
2. Choose an attribute to query by clicking the cell immediately below the Attribute column heading. A drop-down list shows all of the attribute fields for that layer.
Note that the first item on the list is GEOMETRY. Select this option if you are creating a spatial query. This process will be discussed in greater detail below.
3. After selecting an attribute field, select the query Operator from the drop-down list in the adjacent cell. Depending on the data type, query operators may include “CONTAINS”, “IS EMPTY”, <, and =, among others. For instance, a query to find property owners by name within a parcel layer will be set up as follows:
Layer: Tax Parcels, Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS
4. In the next cell, type or select the search criteria, which will reflect the name or value being sought. A drop-down list will offer a sample of the values that are present within the selected attribute field.
Optionally, select the User Input check box and leave the Criteria field blank, which allows unique query criteria to be entered each time the query is run. This function is particularly useful when sharing a layer with a user of XMap Professional either through an openspace file transfer or using the synchronization process as it allows them to customize the search parameters.
5. Use the Logical Operator option to build a more complex query by establishing multiple search criteria either on the same field or on different fields within the layer. For instance, by choosing the AND option, an additional line can be added that further filters the query results. The parcel query might then read like this:
Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS, Criteria: Smith, Logical Operator: AND
Attribute: Value, Operator: > Criteria: 100000
In this case the query would return a list of all of the properties owned by someone named Smith that have a value of grater than $100,000. Additional lines can be added to a query as needed.
The process of building a spatial or geographic query is similar to building an attribute query. Selecting GEOMETRY from the Attribute list, as noted above, offers a unique list of query operators including, “IS CONTAINED BY”, “INTERSECTS”, and “WITHIN A DISTANCE OF”, as well as their inverses. This allows a subset of objects within a layer to be generated based on their spatial relationship to objects in another layer or based on a determined distance from a selected location or from the map center.
A powerful search option is to create a query that is a combination of both spatial and attribute query criteria. Using the parcel example again, the query could be built as follows:
Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS, Criteria: Smith, Logical Operator: AND
Attribute: Value, Operator: > Criteria: 100000, Logical Operator: AND
Attribute: GEOMETRY, Operator: IS CONTAINED BY, Criteria: City School District
In this example the query results would be further limited to those that fall with the City School District polygon as delineated in a second openspace layer.
It is common for the spatial query function to be used in conjunction with XMap’s buffer tool. A buffer is polygon of a user-specified radius created around an object or group of objects within a layer. The Buffer dialog box, which is accessed by clicking the Tools button in the Workspace, offers the option to create buffer areas around all objects in a layer or just those that have been selected or queried.
As an example of the combined use of the buffer and spatial query tools, a pipeline manager can create a map and generate a list of properties that fall within a mile of his pipeline. To accomplish this he would first create his one-mile buffer polygon then build a spatial query as noted above using IS CONTAINED BY as the operator and the newly created buffer layer as the criteria.
The query function is one of the fundamental data management tools within any GIS. In XMap, the combination of buffering, attribute and spatial querying provides an efficient and effective way to filter or highlight critical objects within a layer.
A version of this article was originally penned for the April 2007 edition of the DeLorme Professional Newsletter. When it was suggested that we include an updated revision for the June 2009 edition, it transpired that most of the original content still applies. So, with apologies to long-time subscribers, the following article is recycled.
The query function, which is included in both the Enterprise and Editor versions of XMap, offers both attribute and spatial querying. Queries are used to quickly identify specific records in your data and to uncover the spatial relationship between objects within different data layers. Note that queries that have been built using Enterprise or Editor are transferred with the corresponding openspace layer or through the synchronization process to users of XMap Professional. However XMap Professional cannot be used to create a query.

Query1

A query is built by following a few simple steps:
  1. After clicking the Query button on the left side of the GIS tab, select the layer to be queried from the Layer drop-down list.
  2. Choose an attribute to query by clicking the cell immediately below the Attribute column heading. A drop-down list shows all of the attribute fields for that layer.
    Note that the first item on the list is GEOMETRY. Select this option if you are creating a spatial query. This process will be discussed in greater detail below.
  3. After selecting an attribute field, select the query Operator from the drop-down list in the adjacent cell. Depending on the data type, query operators may include “CONTAINS”, “IS EMPTY”, <, and =, among others. For instance, a query to find property owners by name within a parcel layer will be set up as follows:

    Layer: Tax Parcels, Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS

  4. In the next cell, type or select the search criteria, which will reflect the name or value being sought. A drop-down list will offer a sample of the values that are present within the selected attribute field.
    Optionally, select the User Input check box and leave the Criteria field blank, which allows unique query criteria to be entered each time the query is run. This function is particularly useful when sharing a layer with a user of XMap Professional either through an openspace file transfer or using the synchronization process as it allows them to customize the search parameters.
  5. Use the Logical Operator option to build a more complex query by establishing multiple search criteria either on the same field or on different fields within the layer. For instance, by choosing the AND option, an additional line can be added that further filters the query results. The parcel query might then read like this:

    Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS, Criteria: Smith, Logical Operator: AND
    Attribute: Value, Operator: > Criteria: 100000

    In this case the query would return a list of all of the properties owned by someone named Smith that have a value of greater than $100,000. Additional lines can be added to a query as needed.

Query2The process of building a spatial or geographic query is similar to building an attribute query. Selecting GEOMETRY from the Attribute list, as noted above, offers a unique list of query operators including, “IS CONTAINED BY”, “INTERSECTS”, and “WITHIN A DISTANCE OF”, as well as their inverses. This allows a subset of objects within a layer to be generated based on their spatial relationship to objects in another layer or based on a determined distance from a selected location or from the map center.
A powerful search option is to create a query that is a combination of both spatial and attribute query criteria. Using the parcel example again, the query could be built as follows:
Attribute: Owner, Operator: EQUALS, Criteria: Smith, Logical Operator: AND
Attribute: Value, Operator: > Criteria: 100000, Logical Operator: AND
Attribute: GEOMETRY, Operator: IS CONTAINED BY, Criteria: City School District
In this example the query results would be further limited to those that fall with the City School District polygon as delineated in a second openspace layer.
It is common for the spatial query function to be used in conjunction with XMap’s buffer tool. A buffer is polygon of a user-specified radius created around an object or group of objects within a layer. The Buffer dialog box, which is accessed by clicking the Tools button in the Workspace, offers the option to create buffer areas around all objects in a layer or just those that have been selected or queried.
As an example of the combined use of the buffer and spatial query tools, a pipeline manager can create a map and generate a list of properties that fall within a mile of his pipeline. To accomplish this he would first create his one-mile buffer polygon then build a spatial query as noted above using IS CONTAINED BY as the operator and the newly created buffer layer as the criteria.
The query function is one of the fundamental data management tools within any GIS. In XMap, the combination of buffering, attribute and spatial querying provides an efficient and effective way to filter or highlight critical objects within a layer.