Course Content - Introduction to MapInfo

Course Summary

GIS Basics

• Vector and raster data
• Spatial and attribute data
• Layer concept and two important rules

Basics of MapInfo

• MapInfo interface
• Configuring MapInfo
• Directory structure considerations
• Data editing in a network environment
• Investigate Main toolpad buttons

Selections and Searches

• Graphical selection methods
• Mapping and browsing selections

Layer Control

• Layer control options
• Style override, zoom layering
• Cosmetic layer

Drawing Toolpad

• Investigate setting object styles
• Work with various object styles
• Reshape and add node buttons

Raster Translucency

Workspaces

Labelling

• Labelling via layer control
• Saving labels to a permanent table

Projections

• Review spherical versus Cartesian-based projections
• Complete an exercise in altering the map window projection
• Discuss non-earth to real-world projection conversions

Data Input

• Creating a new table
• Excel spreadsheets, Access databases and ASCII text file import
• Importing an ArcView shapefile
• MapInfo MID/MIF format
• Read-only tables

Scaled Output

• Produce a scaled map with MapInfo
• Additional map enhancements to the Layout window

Examine MapBasic Tools included with MapInfo

Create a Legend

SQL Select

• Data types, table structures and SQL basics
• SQL Select dialog box properties

Table Updating  

Thematic Mapping

• Complete thematic mapping exercises using ranges, pie graphs, bivariant maps, and dot density maps
• Summarize key points and possible pitfalls when thematic mapping

Map Compilation Steps

• Discuss scanning considerations of paper maps
• Register a scanned map
• Use heads-up digitizing to investigate the steps involved in the map compilation process
• Discuss additional map compilation considerations

End of Course Review Exercise

•  Given detailed specifications, listed step-by-step, utilize your knowledge of MapInfo to produce a scaled A4 map, complete with text labels, legend and thematic mapping.

 

Optional Topics That Can be Substituted

Geocoding

•  Automatic and interactive geocoding
• Updating abbreviations in the MapInfow.Abb file
• Manual geocoding
• Additional cleaning procedures to increase the hit rate  

Restricting  

Buffering

• Creating a buffer
• Updating a buffer with attributes
• Selections utilizing buffers  

Introductory MapBasic

• How to learn MapBasic
• Key strategies to troubleshoot MapBasic code
• File produced by MapBasic
• Simple exercises investigating the MapBasic language using MapInfo