Awesome
Set of Maps added to GalleryHeadlines 04 - 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 Some items may be superceded by more recent news items.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.
InfoWorld Reviews Database Commander
What a great review! InfoWorld takes a close look at Database Commander and concludes: "If the formula for a killer application is to combine powerful and unique features with ease of use and a reasonable sticker price, then Database Commander 1.10 (Enterprise Manager Edition) by Manifold.net easily reaches critical mass -- and then some."
Awesome
Set of Maps added to Gallery
A really elegant collection of maps made in Manifold System Release 4.50 has been added to the screen shots page. Created by Lena and Dmitri Bagh as a generous donation of time to the Pasteur Institute, the maps show an epidemiological study of Leptospirosis cases in animals and people in St. Petersburg, Russia. Note the sophisticated use of grids and contour isoline analytics.
New Tech Support Case Study on "Polygon in Polygon" Operations
Manifold
Release 4.50's Spatial Overlay tool is most
frequently used for "point in polygon" GIS operations but with the
intermediate step of using a grid can be used for "polygon in polygon"
operations as well. Suppose we have a map of counties as areas with a
population attribute for each. In a second layer we have a map of selected
school districts as areas. This case study shows how to assign a pro-rata
share of population from counties overlapped by a school district to the school
district area, where the amount assigned is based on the percentage of area
overlapped. It's remarkably easy to do.
NORTAD 1998 Goes Online
The North Atlantic Transportation Atlas Database (NORTAD) 1998 CD has been placed online for download by FTP. See the Free Maps and Data Page for links. Detail (right): Canadian data from NORTAD 1998.
GeoWorld Reviews Database Commander
GeoWorld magazine has reviewed Manifold Database Commander in a really nice "quick take" review that's very complimentary. A sample quote:
"Manifold Database Commander is a powerful
database tool that combines interoperability, an extensive suite of database
management and analysis tools, and a familiar user interface. In addition,
Database Commander reads and writes most formats: databases, spreadsheets, World
Wide Web pages and text files. Browsing, analysis and database manipulation
features are neatly packaged in a format that gives users all these capabilities
almost simultaneously, and users don't have to write a single line of structured
query language (SQL).
The product also features structured and "on-the-fly" decision support, data visualization tools with live links into the data, and Web harvesting and publishing. These features are added to the standard functionality expected from a database management system (DBMS), creating a product that GIS or database experts and novices should obtain." Read the complete review.
Service Pack 4 issued for Release 4.50
Service Pack 4 (SP4) Beta 1 has been issued for Release 4.50. Three small, but important bugs are repaired in this service pack. It includes all bug fixes and improvements issued in previous SP's or Hot Fixes. See the Support page for more information.
Great
Lakes and Making Time Zones
Case Studies
Two new case studies have been added to the Case Studies page. The Great Lakes case study (illustration, left) shows how we can create the Great Lakes in a continental map that does not show them. We use information from high resolution maps to create a "cookie cutting" area that is then used to cut out the shape of the Great Lakes from a continental map. The example shows simple editing, creation of new areas and use of the area union and split solvers
The Making Time Zones Case study is a "mini case" showing one small sequence of steps used to "cookie cutter" a set of areas into new areas in the shape of the desired time zone followed by use of Table View to rapidly copy data attributes into the new areas.
Manifold.net is please to present a new map of
world time zones. (illustration, right) This map is being published under the Free Software
Foundation's General Public License, the same license used to distribute GNU and
Linux. You may use it as you wish so long as you pass on rights to do
likewise to any recipient of the map or of any derived work. See the readme
file for more info.
Free Solvers Bonus Package issued for Release 4.50
Download and install the Bonus Package for Manifold System Release 4.50. The new Bonus Package includes in one solver package all free solvers previously released for 4.50. See the Free Stuff for Manifold page for more information, documentation, and screen shots. Note: this does not include free items that are not solver packages, such as the NTAD99 converter, hurricane icons, etc. Solvers include:
Release 5.00 Pricing and Features Set
Announced
Release 5.00 is coming soon! In Q1 2001, Manifold System Release 5.00 will provide the most sophisticated, most flexible raster/vector integration in GIS. R5 will also include new database methods never before seen in GIS. As is our tradition, all 4.50 customers will get an unbeatable deal to upgrade to R5. Release 5.00 will be priced at $245, with upgrades for 4.50 customers only $50. Image Detail (right): World terrain elevations as raster image, georeferenced into Robinson projection using Release 5.00 tools. Contrast has been improved and 3D relief highlights added. Click on the picture to see the full image.
ZDNet
5 Star Editor's Pick for Manifold
Database Commander
Once again, ZDNet has awarded its highly coveted and rarely-bestowed top honor to a manifold.net database program. Manifold's Database Commander won the 5 Star Editor's Pick with a reviewer's report that calls it "extraordinarily powerful" and "easy-to-use" with an "incredibly competitive" price. All Manifold traditions! See the complete review at ZDNet.
NTAD 99 Converter
This free-standing Windows program converts National Transportation Atlas (NTAD) 1999 format files into Manifold/Microsoft mfd/mdb files. The NTAD 99 CD is available free from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics www.bts.gov and includes a huge number of useful files. Example: the illustration at right shows the 106th Congressional Districts in the US, and has been color-coded by party affiliation (Pink:Democrats, Brown: Republicans, Green: Independent).
See the NTAD 99 CD Contents Page for a quick list of cool files the new converter allows you to use. Download the NTAD 99 to Manifold Converter. Note: the current edition is a beta version; however, it has successfully converted all files on the NTAD99 CD.
UK Ordnance Survey NTF Converter
A special converter done at the request of our many UK customers, this free-standing Windows program converts UK Ordnance Survey NTF format Land Line and Land Line Plus digital maps into Manifold format. Visit the Ordnance Survey's web site at www.ordsvy.gov.uk. The current converter is a beta and has been verified using various sample downloads provided by the Ordnance Survey. Please download it and take it for a spin. Download the NTF to Manifold Converter.
SP4 fixes a few bugs discovered since the first service pack, and also provides some significant new features and enhancements to Manifold Release 4.50. Read the Release Notes for SP4 to see what is covered by SP4. There are numerous enhancements to Release 4.50 in SP4, including TIGER/Line 1998 import, NOAA GLOBE DEM import and other improvements. Detail (left): World View with elevation texture and "transparent" rectangle showing current Map View extent.
SP4 adds textures to World View, adds TIGER/Line 1998 and NOAA GLOBE support, case sensitive/insensitive button for SQL Toolbar, text import from DXF, saving screen images using JPG (with selectable quality levels and progressive scan settings for Web use, too!), and many more improvements. See the Support page for details.
News Bulletin: TIGER/Line® 1998 Data Now Available! - only $250 per Set!
The US Bureau of the Census has recently release TIGER/Line 1998, an update to the TIGER/Line 1997 data set. Because this data set update comes so close to TIGER/Line 1997, most TIGER/Line users are not purchasing it; however, for those users who absolutely need the 1998 update, we are providing all seven CDs of TIGER/Line 1998 data on custom recorded CDs for only $250 a set. Because these are short volume, custom produced CDs the price is higher than the $97 price of the mass-produced TIGER/Line 1997 set; however, you still save big over the Census Bureau's price! Note: Manifold System Release 4.50 can read TIGER/Line 1998 format! Install SP2 (free download) for Release 4.50 to add TIGER/Line 1998 import capability to Manifold System. Cool!
Manifold® Database Commander™
Released!
Manifold® Database Commander™ is now shipping! See the coolest new tool in database work in years. Database Commander is a universal command and control console for working with almost any database. Commander allows you to see your data and relationships in the data with greater power and ease of use than ever before. Browse almost any database or data file, and analyze, do statistics, transform data, change types and database format, chart, search using "More Like This," search using Decision Support System with flexible tradeoffs and criteria, Search and Replace, find duplicates, write SQL queries, browse and edit SQL Server datagases, launch optional 3D graphics and much, much more!
Press Coverage: Read a review of Database Commander by Computer Programming Specialists, Inc. for the dataBASE d-zine.
Visit the Database Commander Home Page
See a Case Study of "harvesting" a competitor's dealer database from the web. The Case Study presents a step-by-step procedure with thumbnail illustrations (click to see full-sized screen shots) of harvesting data from a web site, converting the dealer list into a handy database, removing duplicates and making formatting conversions for easy use.
Case Studies from Technical Support
These new Case Studies provide step-by-step instructions from Technical Support's case files. From time to time Technical Support creates a sequence of screen shots to send to a customer to resolve a question. We've begun adding some of the more comprehensive examples to the web site:
Beta 2 version of Service Pack 2 Available
Manifold Release 4.50 came out remarkably bug-free. Service Pack 1 (SP1) was issued two months ago for Release 4.50 to clean up a few bugs and to introduce a few enhancements. Service Pack 2 (SP2) will soon be out to provide continued maintenance. To assure continued high quality in 4.50, we are releasing beta versions of SP2.
For
adventurous users, we have recently made available the Beta 2 Service Pack 2.
SP2 is expected to be out in the next week or two. It fixes a few bugs
discovered since SP1 and will also provide some minor new features and
enhancements to Manifold Release 4.50. Read the Release
Notes for SP2 Beta 2 to see what is covered by the beta SP2.
If SP2 already fixes a problem you are experiencing, Download
Service Pack 2 Beta 2 and install it as set forth in the Release Notes.
Color Areas Solver Package
This solver package installs a Color Areas solver into the Solvers - Utility menu. The solver takes a set of areas and assigns to each one a number (called a color value), normally 1, 2, 3, or 4. If the areas are subsequently colored using auto-formatting with a different color assigned to each color value, then the areas will be colored throughout the map so that no two adjacent areas have the same color. The illustration shows counties in Pennsylvania that have been colored using Color Areas. Jump to the free stuff web page for links to the Color Areas page and downloads.
Many people are using Manifold to track hurricanes. We've provided a storms.dll file that has 32x32 and 48x48 256 color icons that may be installed into Manifold System Release 4.50 to provide hurricane images for point icons.
"Hot Fix" Version of MfdExport.exe
When changing the intrinsic units and accuracy settings within Manifold (such as by changing Units2Degree factors), one may increase the resolution of Manifold to whatever level desired. However, certain maps rescaled from the default units and accuracy settings would not be correctly exported by MfdExport.exe. This new version is a "hot fix" that requires Service Pack 2 Beta. Download the mfdexport.zip file, unzip it into a temporary directory and follow the instructions in the accompanying readme file for installation.
Bezier Curve Solver
This
new solver was created for a hurricane tracking scientist. Given a set of
points, it draws a curved line through them using Bezier curves. If the
points represent observed locations of a hurricane over time, the resultant
curved lines will be a "smoother" representation of the path than
simply joining points with straight line segments. The solver operates the same
as the make line solver described below.
Jump to
the Free Stuff for Manifold page
for a free download.
Dissolve
Solver
This wonderful new solver package installs a Dissolve solver into the Solvers - Spatial Analysis menu of Manifold System Release 4.50. Dissolve is so named because it "dissolves away" or removes the borders between areas that have identical values in data attribute fields. Given a set of areas, it can automatically create new areas that are spatial combinations of areas having the same data attributes. The solver works within a point-and-click Windows dialog and provides for sophisticated "polygon-in-polygon" attribute inheritance and aggregation.
This solver is an awesome spatial solver. It is so cool we have given it its own web page. Jump to the Free Stuff for Manifold page for links to screen shots and a free download.
Contour Map Solver Released - Free Download for 4.50 Users
The contour_map.mxz solver package installs
a sophisticated contour map generator into the Spatial Analysis solver
menu. Manifold System Release 4.50 already includes a solver to create one
or more contour lines from map objects. The new contour map solver
adds the ability to automatically create area objects as well as lines.
Areas are may be automatically created using a variety of options, including use
of a Microsoft ActiveX formula for heights. Jump to
the Free Stuff for Manifold page
for a screen shot and free download. Note: This
solver was created base on votes from the Directions
Magazine "wishlist" for MapInfo. Tired of waiting
for your vendor to respond to user requests? Feel you have to organize a
user's group just so that the GIS vendor will take your "wishlist"
seriously? Time to move to Manifold System!
This new solver package provides Delaunay triangulation as well as Selection solvers that extract significant features from point data sets. It's so cool it has a page of its own: See the Triangulation Solver Package Page.
Eclipse Planner through the year 2020
Use Manifold GIS to plan your total eclipse excursions through the year 2020. The new map includes all total eclipses (except the 2003 eclipse in Antarctica) plus a world background map and all named places in the umbral paths taken from the Digital Chart of the World. This new map set is available at no charge from our Free Maps and Data page. Don't miss the spectacular 2009 eclipse in Asia, which will provide over six minutes of totality from prime viewing locations. See how the power of GIS makes complex eclipse data instantly comprehensible.
Free! - Graticule Solver
Another cool, free download from manifold.net
to enhance Manifold System 4.50: the graticule.mxz solver package
installs a new solver to automatically create graticules (grids of latitude and
longitude lines) in any projection. Create graticules as any combination
of lines, points or areas. Cool! Download
the free graticule solver for Release 4.50.
New Product! - Manifold Database Commander
We've upgraded our Commander web pages to point at a sneak preview for our new Database Commander product, to be released in August. If you are working with databases, do not miss a sneak preview of this cool new Manifold product. If you are really excited, the beta edition of Database Commander is available for advance purchase and download today.
Manifold® Database Commander™ is a universal command and control console for working with any database.
Commander allows you to see your data and relationships in the data with greater
power and ease of use than ever before.
Example: Add a column to a Table or Query that shows the results of a formula with the Formula Builder. The thumbnail at left shows how a new column, Discounted Price is added to a table to report the results of applying the Discount in the record to the UnitPrice. The Discounted Price column is computed "on the fly" for each record just like a spread sheet. That's why they are called Active Columns.
TeleAtlas Converter in Beta
Manifold's new TAIF to Manifold converter converts TeleAtlas Interchange Format (TAIF) files to Manifold format. TeleAtlas is a premium European provider of road network and other GIS data. The new utility is a stand-alone Windows program; however, since it uses Manifold .dll files, it requires Manifold Release 4.50 plus SP1 to function correctly. Download the TAIF to Manifold converter from our FTP sites.
Wow! That's only the news for the last month or so. Check out the Headlines page to see a summary of news items for previous months, with fast links to previous What's New? pages. You'll be astonished at the range, power and productivity that a relationship with manifold.net provides.
Jump to Headlines page for more news!
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