A Windows Integration Sanity Test

Lots of vendors in GIS markets will tell you they are "well integrated" with Microsoft Windows, but surprisingly few even know what critical Microsoft technologies like .NET are, let alone how critically important they are for GIS users.  Some do not even work correctly in Windows XP!  Be wary of fast-talking GIS salesmen who promise modern standards but deliver yesterday's technologies buffed up with a fresh coat of paint.   For Windows fans this page may sound crazy, as if there are still applications that act like XP or Windows Server 2003 is a new thing, but some GIS packages are so old-fashioned that they fail to support these and other modern Microsoft technologies.

We're going to assume that the reader has already decided Microsoft is the right technology choice, and that there are many benefits from being well integrated with Microsoft operating systems.  Here are some test questions you might find helpful in assessing just how "integrated" a product is with Microsoft's latest, state-of-the-art software:

Is the user interface a dressed up UNIX command line interface?  Surprisingly many GIS products, even those that sell for thousands of dollars, include numerous instances of "living-fossil" user-interface technology.  Coelacanths were thought to be extinct for tens of millions of years before a live specimen was caught in the Indian Ocean.  UNIX command line interfaces (even within UNIX!) should also be extinct, so don't let one pop up inside your GIS package.  Insist on a user interface like Manifold's that harnesses the visual power of Microsoft's Windows metaphor, all the time.

Does the product run native in 64 bits when run in Windows XP x64 or Windows Server x64? Believe it or not, some vendors say they "support 64 bits" when in actual fact they don't have 64-bit code, they are simply selling 32-bit products that run in 32-bit emulation mode.  If the vendor does not support 64-bit Windows editions with true, 64-bit code, they are not taking advantage of the power of modern Windows products.  Manifold provides perfect, native 64-bit operation in all Windows x64 64-bit operating systems.  Manifold System is the only professional GIS to run native 64 bits in 64-bit Windows editions.

Does the product take advantage of multiple-core processors or multiple processors?  Modern Windows provides superb, perfectly integrated support for multi-threaded use of modern processors that feature multiple cores.  If your vendor fails to take advantage of these modern capabilities they are not as integrated with modern Microsoft and processor technologies as they should be.  Amazingly enough, some legacy software (like that sold by ESRI) even though it costs thousands of dollars per seat cannot take advantage of multi-core or multiprocessor architectures.  Manifold seamlessly utilizes multi-core processors in a variety of important settings, such as parallelized rendering of image libraries and multi-threaded connections to databases.  Manifold is AMD "4x4" ready and runs on the latest multi-core processor offerings from Intel as well!

Has the program achieved Microsoft's "Designed for Windows XP" status? - Manifold is the first professional GIS and mapping application to achieve the coveted "Designed For Windows XP" status.   When installed in Windows XP, Manifold System automatically configures the "look and feel" of the product to match Windows XP.  Manifold System qualifies 100% for Microsoft's Designed for Windows XP software qualification program!  Applications meeting the Designed for Windows XP criteria must meet key requirements that assure the software will run correctly on Windows XP.  Requirements include: Support for fast user switching between users; Support for new visual styles; Performance of primary functionality and maintain stability; All kernel-mode drivers that the application installs must pass verification on Windows XP; Applications perform Windows version checking properly; Applications do not attempt to replace files that are protected by Windows File Protection; Applications do not require a reboot unnecessarily.

Image at right: A column formatting dialog for table windows in Manifold seen in XP automatically uses the modern XP look for controls.

Is the program supported within Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000, including 64-bit versions? Surprisingly many programs are not "XP aware", and work/install only within older Windows or their vendors are not completely "with it" when it comes to supporting use within Windows XP or 2000.  manifold.net is an "Microsoft shop" throughout and develops exclusively in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 with back-ports to Windows 2000.   As a Microsoft ISV, we receive a constant stream of Microsoft DVDs with every new beta and copies of all Microsoft products in dozens of languages.    We support Manifold today in the very latest, very newest Windows releases.  Ready for Vista?  Manifold is! 

Does the program require the latest Microsoft .NET Framework for installation? If the program does not require the .NET Framework for installation you can be sure it does not leverage Microsoft's fabulously powerful .NET technology.  That's usually a sure-fire sign the program fails to use modern Microsoft technology, or, worse, that it may be really warmed-over Linux code that's been hacked into a "Windows" version.  If you want to have some fun with this, call the legacy GIS vendor and ask to speak to a technically oriented sales person and ask them what .NET is, whether they use it, and what specific benefits does .NET provide a GIS application that uses .NET.  Does the legacy GIS vendor even know what .NET is?  Manifold does, and Manifold uses .NET today to increase the power, sophistication and quality of Manifold in your hands.  A corollary question if the vendor uses .NET is if they are using the latest .NET framework? Manifold does, to make sure you are connected to the latest and greatest Microsoft technology.

Does the program use Microsoft data access standards like ADO.NET? Surprisingly many GIS programs use dBase formats for data attribute storage instead of Microsoft standards. ESRI's ArcView program, for example, uses dBase .dbf format as an integral part of "shapefiles," the native format of ArcView.  dBase was certainly a step forward for CP/M in the late 1970's,  but unless one has an interest in antique software it is hardly as useful in modern Microsoft environments as Microsoft standards.  Worse still, some GIS systems actually use their own, proprietary database storage formats.  Manifold uses only Microsoft formats, including perfect support for the latest in Microsoft Universal Data Access using Microsoft standards such as ADO.NET, OLE DB, ODBC, UDL, Access MDB and SQL Server.  Using ADO.NET, you can get data 600 times faster from SQL Server than through old-fashioned ODBC connections. To assure perfect compatibility with Microsoft data access standards, Manifold uses Microsoft's own code to connect to standard Microsoft file types (such as Access .mdb and Excell .xls) as well as to Windows standard database providers. That means that Manifold is directly compatible with Microsoft products such as Access and Excel as well as with all of the thousands of other Microsoft standard, third party programs that use Microsoft's database formats and data access methods.

Are Microsoft languages and standards used for scripting?   Don't be handcuffed by some bizarre, one of a kind language invented by a GIS company.  Microsoft language standards such as VB .NET and C# provide greater freedom and make more economic sense than being handcuffed by some vendor's proprietary language. If your GIS software cannot use Microsoft language standards in its scripting system, you'll be forced to learn some proprietary language and will be unable to take advantage of advances in Microsoft languages developed by the rest of the software industry.  Manifold System uses Microsoft's .NET and ActiveX technology to allow scripting using any Microsoft-standard ActiveX scripting language, such as Visual Basic Scripting or Javascript, or any standard Microsoft .NET language, such as C#..  Use third party objects, COM, and all the rest!  It's easy and fun.  Advanced programmers can control Manifold using standard Microsoft Visual Basic or Visual C++ or any other standard Microsoft-compatible language.  

Are Microsoft Development Tools used to create the product?  While fine products may be created using any development environment, it stands to reason that products developed with Microsoft's own development tools and development libraries,  which use actual Microsoft code to implement Windows interfaces, will provide the best compatibility with Microsoft Windows technologies.  Manifold System uses Microsoft Visual C++ and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET to implement modern Windows interfaces using Microsoft's own code.   When you install Manifold System, you actually install numerous items of advanced Microsoft code.  Manifold is the only GIS compiled using the latest Microsoft tools, including Visual Studio .NET.  In fact, when Manifold launches it uses Microsoft .NET XML parsing code to configure itself using XML files that may be user-edited.

Can the program publish web pages with Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)? - The Internet provides a way to publish your projects worldwide at effectively zero cost.  Internet methods are also used to communicate within organizations using intranets.  If a GIS program claims to be "Microsoft compatible" it sure better be able to work perfectly with Microsoft's Internet Information Services web server capability that is built into many versions of Windows.  Manifold's Internet Map Server (IMS) is a very high performance, sophisticated map server that's designed to work exclusively with Microsoft Internet Information Services to automatically publish your map projects dynamically to web pages.  Manifold supports high-end IIS features like object pooling and session state free operation.  Don't settle for some clunky, overpriced UNIX-derived map server that uses CGI - Manifold uses Microsoft's own Active Server Pages .asp or ASP .NET files for fast server-side pages that are tightly integrated with IIS. Don't accept any excuses from non-Microsoft vendors who require you to write your own webstuff in Java or use other non-Microsoft web technologies.  Insist on the very best and latest support for genuine Microsoft standards.

Does the program provide tool tips, right-mouse click pop-up menus and standard Windows selection methods?  "Tool tips" are those helpful tips that spontaneously pop up when your mouse cursor lingers over a command button.  Manifold System includes full tool tips on all toolbar buttons, as well as supplemental prompts in the status line.   Clicking in various areas with the right mouse calls up context sensitive pop-up menus that change depending on the context of the click.  Programs that are tightly integrated with the Windows user interface will use standard Windows highlighting and selection methods in dialogs.  For example, in Manifold, to select all records in a table between two records we can click on the first record and then SHIFT-click on the second record.  All records in between will also be highlighted. 

Does the package seamlessly integrate with Microsoft products like Excel, Access, MapPoint, SQL Server and Virtual Earth?  Manifold does, but you'd be surprised how many dumb looks and blank stares you get from GIS vendors who don't even know what these Microsoft products are, or how a GIS might connect to, say, Microsoft Virtual Earth.  Manifold provides a host of interconnections to standard Microsoft products.  See, for example, the Flashy Demo example topic for how Manifold seamlessly integrates with Excel.  See the Tutorial to see how Manifold seamlessly integrates with Virtual Earth.  No other GIS program has such tight and perfect integration with a host of Microsoft products.  Only Manifold has built-in capabilities to directly connect to SQL Server with custom features to support geospatial storage within SQL Server for enterprise-class applications, like concurrent, multi-user editing by potentially thousands of users. In fact, Manifold is the only GIS that actually delivers a fully-licensed Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition installation on the Manifold DVD!  Microsoft has the world's leading applications in many key areas - your GIS should integrate with those applications perfectly and seamlessly.

Does the program use standard Windows dialogs?   Ever encounter a "Windows" application that doesn't understand about Network Neighborhoods, but instead requires a clumsy renaming of a network hard disk as a local volume before you can open a file on the networked drive?  That's a sign of out-of-date Windows programming.  Programs that are ported to Windows instead of being developed within Windows often feature numerous strange interfaces in lieu of standard Windows dialogs.  Manifold System was developed 100% in Windows for Windows.  All Manifold file manipulation dialogs use standard, modern Windows dialogs for complete compatibility with the latest generation of Microsoft networking.

Can you use the full range of Windows fonts and colors? Surprisingly many programs not fully integrated with Windows cannot handle the full range of colors available in modern graphics cards built for Windows.   Manifold System uses the full palette range available within your Windows system, using standard Windows dialogs. Fonts also are managed using standard Windows fonts dialogs to give you the full use of all fonts installed in your system.

Does the program provide Microsoft programming controls?  Only Manifold includes a drag and drop forms creation capability similar to that of Visual Studio, with direct support for a wide range of standard Microsoft controls that may be dragged and dropped into the form.  Microsoft-style "smart mouse" selection and alignment controls mean that forms creation is similar to that of all standard Microsoft forms-capable applications.  Manifold's API includes numerous features supporting direct use of Manifold within your advanced Microsoft development tools.

Does the program use standard Windows icon and bitmap formats?  Programs that use standard Windows graphics resources (like Manifold, of course!) can utilize a vast array of icons and bitmaps.  Manifold can be customized to use any graphics file for point icons.  Cool!  We've heard that other GIS programs make the addition of new icons virtually impossible, in some case requiring the acquisition of exotic and expensive tools. 

Now's the time to purchase Manifold! - Windows is here to stay, and the sooner your investments in computer software really support Windows, the better!   If you find yourself wondering why your existing GIS vendor is moving with glacial speed to catch up with yesterday's Windows standards, buy a copy of Manifold and see what a really progressive software vendor like manifold.net can do for you.  Save time, save money, and feel smarter too!

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