On-the-fly projection—Users can combine data from any projection into a common projection for viewing and analysis. Also, any map layer can be exported into a new projection. To optimize your ability to create a wide variety of projections in a minimal amount of time, MapObjects is now integrated with ESRI's ArcInfo projection engine.
Unparalleled data support—MapObjects offers direct support for a wide variety of data sources such as
Standard GIS formats—ArcInfo coverages, ESRI shapefiles, and ESRI GRID
Computer-aided design (CAD) formats (DGN, DXF, and DWG), CAD world files, and AutoCAD 2000 DWG files
Access to external databases through ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), Data Access Objects (DAO), and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
Image catalogs, plus a variety of image formats such as GeoTIFF, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, ERDAS, and MrSID
ESRI's ArcView StreetMap for geocoding
ArcSDE (ESRI's Spatial Database Engine) databases
Common military formats such as Vector Product Format (VPF) and ASRP/USRP
Advanced data handling—MapObjects provides powerful spatial and attribute filters to optimize performance. As an option, developers can access the ArcSDE application program interface (API) directly from MapObjects applications. MapObjects also supports image transparency, display, and output, as well as the rotation of both vector and raster data layers.
State-of-the-art geocoding capabilities—MapObjects lets you do quick and accurate address matching including international addresses and reject processing. With StreetMap support, you can read, display, and geocode a street address from the highly compressed StreetMap database. StreetMap files cover the entire United States and include features such as local landmarks, streets, parks, and water bodies.
Note: To read the compressed StreetMap database, you need to have a StreetMap development license. You can purchase the StreetMap Developers Kit, which includes a StreetMap development license and 50 deployments, from the GIS Store.
Support for Web-based mapping—MapObjects has built-in compatibility with ESRI's ArcIMS Web connectivity middleware. This means you can use MapObjects to put dynamic, customizable maps on the Internet using the ArcIMS technology.
Enhanced GPS management—MapObjects supports dynamic tracking for points, lines, polygons, rectangles, and ellipses, making it easy to manage GPS activities.
Geometric functions—MapObjects includes a robust spatial geometry library for unions, intersections, and buffers.
Run-time deployment utility—Once you have successfully built your application, deployment becomes the critical factor. The MapObjects run-time deployment utility helps you to distribute your applications easily and efficiently.
Versioning capabilities—MapObjects supports versioning for ArcSDE layers; it can connect to any ArcSDE version and allow you to view it. In addition, you can identify and select versions based on version names.
Helpful controls—MapObjects offers a legend and scale bar control, including source code, designed to make it easier for you to develop your applications. These are based on the same controls that are used in ArcExplorer software, ESRI's GIS data browser distributed free of charge. MapObjects contains a collection of common utilities used in ArcExplorer, as well as sample applications demonstrating these components, that provide a framework for further development.
Rich set of powerful mapping and GIS component tools—These tools allow you to display, query, and analyze dynamic map data.
Feature rendering using thematic methods—You can easily add value maps, class breaks, graduated symbols, dot density maps, and pie and bar charts to your applications. MapObjects also now supports custom chart symbology.
Feature attribute selection and query—Queries can be performed using standard SQL expressions.
Internationalization—MapObjects includes ISO Codepage conversion for shapefiles, coverages, and INFO files, as well as support for Hong Kong character sets.
