Interactive maps, webmapping, USA map, map of US, map of England, map of France,statistics, atlas : Geoclip




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Getting started > Build your Géoclip
Download the creation application from MapInfo or ArcGis

ArcGis version: Download cgeoclip_ag05.zip
(version 0.55 dated 19/12/2002, 225Kb)
See also the history of changes and corrections

Mapinfo version: Download cgeoclip_mi05.zip
(version 0.60 dateed 6/01/2003, 198Kb)
See also the history of changes and corrections

The Géoclip builder for Mapinfo 4.5 to 7.5 or ArcGis 8 consists basically of a compiled mapbasic script (geoclip.mbx) or a dll (ArcGis) and of a compiled Flash interface (geoclip.swf). The minimum entries required are a polygon-based base map with at least two fields, one for naming the geographic units, the other for describing each unit's population. It can handle up to 10 numeric variables and allows for 5 additional indicators defined as ratios. The builder then creates a fully independent geostatic application that can be placed on a website or copied to a CD-ROM. The Mapinfo or ArcGis application generates the html start-up page and groups the geographic and statistical data into one – or two – compressed swf file(s). A browser with the Flash 6 player installed is all you need to view the map.

The builder writes coordinate vectors and statistical data directly in swf format – click here for swf specifications. It uses Jean-Loup Gailly and Mark Adler's wonderful zlib compression library. The interface included in geoclip.swf has been specially optimised to allow the Flash player to handle sorting tasks, statistical calculations and complex drawings without the help of a server. The Géoclip builder can handle up to 3,000 geographic units, as demonstrated by some examples included in the Géoclip gallery.

These downloads are in English. The French versions are available from the French site (the small flag in the upper right-hand corner). A Spanish interface is also available – please contact us.

Instructions for use follow:

Copy all the zipped files in the same directory.

- Open MapInfo and run the application geoclip.mbx.
An additional "Géoclip" item is displayed in the menu bar.
- Open ArcMap, Tools/Customise menu, Commands tab. Click the "Add from file" button and search for a_geoclip.dll. A "Géoclip" item is displayed in the "Command" zone. Drag it to any ArcMap toolbar.

Open the files needed to build your Géoclip:
- a file of the area you want to explore; it is of course compulsory and must contain – in addition to the geographic objects – at least one character variable containing the name of the geographic units, and one numeric variable indicating their population;
- one or two complementary file(s) – major cities, surrounding contours; these are optional (see below).

Start the builder from the Géoclip / Internet builder menu. The following dialog box appears:

Fill in the various available fields – base map, unit names and population, titles and notices.

Click OK to finish if you do not want to add any additional data or geographic elements.

The application runs in less than a minute and a first Géoclip appears, offering all the browsing features and allowing you to map the population and population density.

To enhance this Géoclip and add data, you must present the corresponding numeric data in the initial file of the base map used for the geographic units. To integrate them, click the "Variables" button in the dialog box above. The dialog box to the right appears.

You can add up to 10 variables by specifying the field name and corresponding label.
Once integrated, the data can be mapped in Géoclip from the foreground data drop-down list. The data are therefore absolute numeric values, and are displayed on the map using proportional circles.

Click OK to confirm.

You can also define new indicators in your Géoclip. To do this, click the "Indicators" button in the first dialog box. The dialog box to the right appears.

You can add up to 5 ratios by specifying a ratio type, the calculation formula, the default colour palette, and the corresponding label.

Once integrated, the data can be mapped in Géoclip from the background data drop-down list. The data are relative numeric values, and are displayed using a choropleth map.

Click OK to confirm.

Finally, you can complete your area by giving it a geographic environment – neighbouring regions, so that your area does not resemble an island, major cities, to use as landmarks. To do this, click the "Complements" button in the first dialog box. The dialog box to the right appears.

Mapinfo: The programme retrieves the polygons and polylines in the first file you specify. It places the polygons in the background and the polylines at the foreground of the map, and keeps the style attributes – backgrounds and borders – of the polygons. The lines are all displayed in grey. They can be used to display intermediate administrative boundaries – e.g. regions – or a grid.

ArcGis: You can specify the background and outline colours of the objects in the background environment, which will appear in the background of the finalised map.

Click OK to confirm.

Click the fourth button –"Customise" – in the first dialog box. A final dialog box appears. Here, you can fine-tune your custom Géoclip. You can change the default colour of geographic units when pointed at and when selected. You can also give a description of your organisation that will appear on printouts.

Select the "Generate a full-screen map launcher" check box to create two html files instead of one. This enables users to display the geoclip.swf Flash file in a full-screen browser window for maximum readability.

Once you have specified all the information needed to create the Géoclip you want, click OK to confirm. The application will run and your Géoclip will either appear automatically or by opening the htm file generated in your usual Flash 6-enabled browser! You can now take advantage of its many browsing features and create maps in a few clicks to view the distribution of your data across the mapped area.

You can now integrate this interactive cartography application in your website or CD-ROM. Several such Géoclip applications can co-exist in the same directory. You simply need to give them different names in the MapInfo builder main panel.

To view the result of the previous operations,
click the image below (Flash 6 player):

To see other examples of what
the Géoclip builder can do, click here.

The builder and its resulting productions can be freely used for non-commercial activities. Any redistribution of the Géoclip builder must be authorised in writing by Emc3. Emc3 disclaims all liability and responsibility regarding the use and redistribution of geographic and statistical data without a licence for use and redistribution.
This free software is not guaranteed to be “defect-free." Please do not hesitate to contact us if you encounter any difficulty when using this application. Any such information will help us improve our product. Write to us.

Latest updates: January 6, 2003
Mapinfo
- base map test included (France by departments, 0.59) ;
- now handles base maps containing up to 80,000 points (0.59).

ArcGis: 0.55: better Unicode (Cyrillic, Thai) and geodatabase support, calculation of surface areas corrected.