Headlines 01 - Archived What's New?

This is archived news information.  Some items may be superceded by more recent news items.   

See the What's New page for the latest news and notes from Manifold.  Visit our Headlines  page to see a list of archived news items pages.    Check out the new Press Releases page for links to press releases issued by manifold.net and see the Customer Comments on Manifold Products page for sample comments from our customers about Manifold and its products. 

TIGER/Line CD 2 Released

CD 2 has been released and shipped to all TIGER/Line 1997 subscribers.  CD 2 covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee.  With the release of CD 2, the TIGER/Line 1997 data set product from manifold.net will now ship with all six CDs covering the entire United States.

Buy Manifold System Release 4.00 today and get Release 4.50 free!

Release 4.50 has entered beta testing and is expected to be released in January. R4.5 provides numerous important upgrades to the existing Release 4, including "point-in-polygon" spatial overlay functions, Themes, ViewBots™, Named Views, QuickLook map previews, dramatically improved printing, automatic legending from autoformat, screen saves to bitmaps, launch toolbar, enum field management,Table View enhancements, new autoformat intervals, transparent colors for area styles, default layer formatting, built-in GPS console, and, of course, wonderful new solvers, like creating areas from boundary lines throughout the entire map at once.

Detail: Release 4.50 ViewBots float above Map View and report the result of a calculation that is continuously updated.

What's a ViewBot? ViewBots are title bars that float over Map View and report the result of some computation. They are continuously updated, so if anything changes in the scope they report on, the result reported by the ViewBot will also change. You can open as many ViewBots as you like, with each one reporting on a different function or on a different scope. The scope can be a layer, the entire map, what's visible, or the Selection. The illustration above shows two ViewBots reporting on all items in the current Selection.   One reports how many have the word "GOLD" in their commodity data field (it's a map of mines!), while the other reports the mimimum elevation in feet of the selected mines.  Click on the thumbnail to see the dialog that tells your 'bot what to report and how to report it to you.

All new Manifold System Release 4.00 orders will be automatically upgraded to Release 4.5 at no additional charge.  Buy today to lock in today's price and avoid an upgrade charge.

TIGER/Line CDs 3 and 6 Now Available

We're now shipping  CD 3 (North Central) and CD 6 (West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, and Island territories) in the TIGER/Line 1997 data set subscription product.   Visit our TIGER/Line 1997 Data Set page for more information, including maps of the various CDs.

Five Stars awarded to Manifold Commander

This week ZDNet awarded its coveted Five Star Editor's Pick rating to Manifold Commander. Wow! ZDNet reviewed the package under our former name, Manifold Calculator, and gave us the rarely-awarded, tip-top Five Stars.  Thank you!  Visit ZDNet at http://hotfiles.zdnet.com for tons of cool software and services.

Manifold GPS Tools for Microsoft Access

Just about everyone has Microsoft's Access database system, so why not use a database system you already know how to use for GPS data collection?  Manifold GPS Tools are an add-in that installs into an Access database installation.  No other software is required, only Access.  GPS Tools for Access is an expanded version of GPS Tools for Manifold.  It allows you to specify the table into which GPS current position, waypoints or routes are imported, and allows you to specify which fields will receive the GPS data.  If you desire, a default table and schema will be created for you.  GPS Tools can also synchronize your computer system's time using the atomic clock time base used in GPS.  Cool!    Visit the Access GPS Home Page to download a free, 14 day trial edition of GPS Tools for Access.

Introducing Manifold Commander - Beyond mere Calculation!

This week, we've changed the name of our Calculator product to Manifold Commander for Microsoft Access.  This includes a complete overhaul of all splash images, website names, user manual, buttons, and more.  Why the name change?  The old name was misleading:  It gave the impression that the product was some sort of pop-up calculator.  Manifold Commander does far, far more.  It Edits text data, it converts date/times, it presents statistics and more.  We think Commander captures the spirit and capability of this cool add-in for Microsoft Access databases. So cool, it won the rarely-awarded 5 Star Editor's Pick rating from ZDNet!

New Case Studies Added

We've added two new Case Studies to the Case Studies page in the Manifold System product page. The new Case Studies explore the use of Selection, including Intersect and Invert selection mode usage as well as the more obvious Add, Subtract, and Replace selection methods.

The cases are "An Essay on Selection" and "A Demo for the Boss". Neither is about heavy math analysis. Rather, they focus on examples of the selection capabilities inherent in Manifold's fast, powerful, and easy to use windows style. The "Essay on Selection" uses the Omo Ranch map of California gold mines, while "A Demo for the Boss" uses a US map with state populations from 1990 to 1997 as the subject.

Shop at the Manifold.net Online Store

The whole world shops at the manifold.net Online Store!  Purchase Manifold® products using secure SSL encrypted links, 24 hours a day, seven days a week!  Browse the store, add products to your shopping basket, and order online using Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit cards. Most software products may be purchased and downloaded within minutes of your purchase.   Instant gratification!  Purchase shipped products from the Online Store as well as downloadable products.  Orders received before noon Pacific Time ship that same business day.

Access Add-Ins Available via the Online Store

Manifold Add-In products for Access may be purchased at the Online Store for immediate download.  Trial Edition users may teleport into the store to purchase a fully licensed version of their favorite Manifold Add-In product. Visit the Commander Home page or the 3d View Home page for a Trial Edition download or to learn more about these essential products.

Manifold Solver Packages Released Online via the Online Store

Manifold's new solver packages, 3d View and Business Tools, for Manifold System are now available via the Online Store.  Purchase and download the solver package of your choice for immediate delivery. See further in this News page for more info.

Manifold Logowear on Sale, an Online Store Exclusive

Some manifold.net products are available only via online purchase at the Store: the new Logowear collection provides the same classic Silicon Valley black T-shirts and other dedicated programmer accessories worn by our R4 Strike Team, programmers, and Mathematics Section during Manifold development.  T-shirts, polo shirts and caps are on sale now featuring a six color embroidered Manifold icon.  Quantities are limited.

Simple Example added to Case Studies

We've added a really easy example to the Case Studies collection to show the use of Manifold as a graphics editing program.  Although Manifold provides more analytics than almost any other GIS, it also provides spectacular and powerful graphics design capability.  Create a Map of US Regions is the simplest example from an analytic perspective, but it is the longest case study because every last tiny detail has been included.  We create a simple map that shows the United States as six differently colored regions.  The map shows which states are included on various TIGER/Line 1997 CDs.   This is the actual procedure used to create the map that is on the TIGER/Line page of this website. 

Manifold® GPS Tools Solvers Released

Manifold's GPS Tools are free to licensed purchasers of Manifold System Release 4.00.  The GPS Tools installable solver package provides three solvers for GPS Setup, GPS Current Position, and GPS Import.  Use any NMEA compatible Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.  Create map Points with data attributes that include Latitude, Longitude, Speed, Bearing, Time, Altitude, GPS Quality, and the Number of Satellites in view.   Waypoints and Routes may be downloaded in batch mode, or the GPS can be interrogated automatically to "track" GPS data. GPS Tools wizards make GPS data acquisition a snap.  Here's a really cool feature: just one mouse click synchronizes your computer system clock to the millionth-second atomic clock accuracy of the GPS system.  Excellent!  You must have Manifold installed to use GPS Tools. See the installation Readme file for more, and then  Download GPS Tools   Detail (above right): Click on the thumbnail to see a step from the GPS Import solver wizard.

Manifold® 3d View for Access® Released

Spectacular!  Now users of Microsoft's Access database system can get 3D Visualization on any 3 numeric fields: all you need is the Manifold 3d View add-in for Access.  It's the second in a series of new products based on Manifold System technology that's available for Access.  Visualize data as surfaces, as wireframes, as data points and more in 3D.  Use the Manifold 3D Voyager to automatically animate "flights" through your data, or fly through the data in 3D under interactive control using Manifold 3D Walker.  Perform line of sight, zones of sight, profile and many more data analytic tasks on the interpolated surface.  See the screen shots below of the Manifold 3d View solver from our Business Tools solver package.  It's the same thing, but for Access! Terrific!

Detail (above, left): Wireframe interpolated 3D surface displayed within Access.  Details (right): Click on the thumbnails at right for views of solid surface drawing styles. The upper image shows terrain elevations around Sausilito and Belvedere, Marin County, California. The middle image shows the zone of sight analyzer operating within Access on a data set that represents terrain elevation. The bottom right thumbnail shows a data surface with Z plane, axes, and Cube options turned on.  We use black backgrounds for the demo screen shots because they look cool in web browsers.  You can set whatever colors you like.

Visit the 3d View Home page for detailed information on 3d View.

Custom DCW CDs on Sale for $150

manifold.net provides free downloads in Manifold format of the Digital Chart of the World (DCW) via our downloads page.  However, some International customers have reported that it is difficult or expensive to download the nearly 2000 megabytes of data involved for the entire world.  We are now offering a custom set of 3 CDs that contain the entire DCW in Manifold format for only $150 + $25 shipping ($175 total).  These custom sets are produced on writable CDs to service the occasional request for the DCW on CD. 

Manifold® Commander for Access® Released

Manifold Commander revolutionizes data manipulation in Microsoft Access 97 databases.  It's the first in a series of new products based on Manifold System technology to be provided outside of Manifold System.     All you need is Microsoft Access - the Manifold Commander installs as an Access Add-In.

It's easy, it's fun, and it will save you time and money!   Hey, that's great!

Detail (above): Commander running with the "Products" table from Microsoft's "Northwind Traders" sample Access 97 database.  Now it's a snap to raise prices 10% across the board!

Visit the Commander Home page for detailed information and Trial Edition downloads.

Commander lets you manipulate data and see statistics in Access databases without update queries or programming. It provides over 75 different functions that can be applied to Tables or editable Queries.  Instantly change field values throughout the database, convert types, copy one field to another and much more.  Detail (right): It's easy to use Commander: just pick operators out of a handy, context-sensitive menu.

Commander's operators are context-sensitive, so that text operators are presented for use when working with text fields, numeric operators for use with numeric fields, and so on.  When copying between different field types, Commander automatically performs type conversions.  For example, the Copy To command when used to copy from a numeric field to a text field will automatically convert the numbers to equivalent text strings.  That's an invaluable feature that's especially helpful when used with Commander's many date and time field operators, such as Copy Day To, which can be used, for example, to copy the day out of a date field into a numeric field.

Manifold Commander allows you to open up to eight Statistics Toolbars that automatically provide a statistics read-out on fields desired.    The Result box to the right of the toolbar instantly displays the desired statistic.  Simultaneously show standard devation, various, average and many more statistics.  Cool!   Detail (above): Statistics toolbar showing the Median of values found in the Freight shipping cost field of a database.

Manifold Business Tools Released

The Manifold BusinessTools solver package is an add-on product for Manifold Release 4.00.  It includes Territory Balancing, Drive Time Analysis, Most Direct Path, Optimal Route, and Closest Facilities.  The solvers feature user friendly wizards to automate common business tasks. 

Detail (left): Territory Balancing solver from the Business Tools collection automatically groups Mexican states by population into North, South, and central territories of equal population.

Manifold 3D Viewer and Analysis Released

Manifold's 3D data visualization and analysis add-on product (extra price will apply) for Manifold Release 4.00 is entering beta test distribution.  The 3D system includes a 3D View window and three control panels: 3D Controls, 3D Analysis, and 3D Voyager™. See a 398KB.gif animation of a 3D Voyager fly through (note: this sample movie loop provides only one frame in five to save download time).

Detail (left): Manifold's 3D Voyager™ panel provides "fly through" animations and powered "walk throughs" of the 3D view display. Data taken from beta version of DEM converter, a section of the Connecticut River valley in exaggerated elevation scale.

Thumbnails (right): 3D views in solid surface and wireframe of Connecticut River valley.  Fly through voyager view is taken from the upper left corner. Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

The system allows visualization of any attribute field from Manifold maps as a 3D surface.  Z coordinate data may be terrain elevation or the content of any data attribute field.  Surfaces may be visualized at selectable detailization, and may be seen as points, wireframe or solid surfaces, with numerous visualization options.  Surfaces are constructed automatically using a surface interpolation algorithm (Akima method) from selected data points.  Surfaces may be "spun" on any axis, with "camera" position specified.

Analysis includes profiles, profiles/lines, "tunnel" or "bridge" clearance, volumetric analysis, line of sight analysis (visible points along a line) or one or two areas visible from start and stop points.  Manifold's 3D visualization also allows "waterline" effects, to allow interactive movement of a Z "waterline" plane to cut data at various levels.  Excellent for visualizing flood plain action.  See Connecticut flooded from above in a 320KB.gif animation or at an oblique angle in a 350KB.gif animation.   Note: image quality has been degraded in the animations to save download time.  Real Manifold 3D View uses millions of colors to achieve smooth gradients! Detail (left): Abstract visualization of gold mine altitudes in Sly Park USGS top map (from screen shots page examples).

Detail (right): 3D view showing a line of sight analysis line from start point (blue) to end point  (red) on a 3D surface visualized as a wireframe model.

Copyright Notices:  Microsoft Access 97 is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.  Manifold is a registered trademark of CDA International Ltd., used under license by Manifold Net Ltd. TIGER/Line 1997 is a registered trademark of the United States Bureau of the Census. 

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