Geoclip - web-mapping - thematic maps




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		Build your own Geoclip

Getting started > Build your own Geoclip
Download the free creation application for MapInfo

Download cgeoclip_mi05.zip (v 0.56 - Nov 1, 2002 - 168 kb)

The Geoclip builder for MapInfo 4.5 and higher is mainly made up of a compiled Mapbasic script (geoclip.mbx) and 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 to describe 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 geostatistic application that can be placed on a website or copied to a CD-ROM. The Mapbasic program generates the html start-up page and groups the geographic and statistical data into one – or two – compressed swf file(s). A browser with 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 superb 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 Geoclip builder can handle up to 3,000 geographic units, as demonstrated by some examples included in the Geoclip gallery.

Instructions for use follow :

Copy all the zipped files in the same directory.

Open MapInfo and run geoclip.mbx.
A new "Geoclip" item appears in the menu bar.

Open the files needed to build your Geoclip :
- 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 Geoclip / 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 programme runs in less than a minute and a first Geoclip appears, offering all the browsing features and allowing you to map the population and population density.

To enhance this Geoclip 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 Geoclip 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 Geoclip. To do this, click the "Ratios" button in the first dialog box. The dialog box on the left appears.

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

Once integrated, the data can be mapped in Geoclip from the background data drop-down list. The data are therefore relative numeric values, and are displayed using a chloropleth 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 on the "Additionals layers" button in the first dialog box. The dialog box to the right appears.

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.

Click OK to confirm.

Click the fourth button – "Customize" – in the first dialog box. A final dialog box appears. Here, you can fine-tune your custom Geoclip. 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 Geoclip you want, click OK to confirm. The programme will run and your Geoclip 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 Geoclip 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 Geoclip builder can do, click here.

The builder and its resulting productions can be freely used for non-commercial activities. Nobody should redistribute Geoclip builder without Emc3 explicit written consent. Emc3 disclaims all liability and responsibility regarding the use and redistribution of graphic 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.

Last changes : November 1, 2002