introduction to mapinfo

Tempus Telcosys (P) Limited

Telecom Tutorials

Wednesday, April 12, 2023www.tempustelcosys.com

Instruction to MAPINFO

This course is intended to give a brief introduction to MAPINFO on the following aspects:

•To get a knowledge of basic functions of MAPINFO and be familiar with normal operations of MAPINFO

•To carry out network planning, optimization and map maintenance with MAPINFO


Targets of the Course

Contents


Chapter 1 Introduction to Mapinfo

Chapter 2 Major Mapinfo Operations

Outline


Mapinfo functionsMapinfo basic conceptsMapinfo toolbarsMapinfo table maintenance

Preface

Mapinfo is an electronic map processing software developed by American Mapinfo. It provides MapBasic scripts for secondary development. Mapinfo provides such functions as measurement analysis, buffer analysis, polygon analysis, table combination and so on.


Mapinfo Basic ConceptsMapinfo tableMapinfo workspaceRaster imageMap layerMap objects


Mapinfo Basic Concepts


Mapinfo tableA table in Mapinfo is different from a common one. It is a logical table, but composes of multiple physical files. A table in Mapinfo includes:

Data table: It includes graphical information or not. It composes of rows and columns, wherein, rows are for different record and columns for the corresponding fields. Raster table: It is different from data table and has no records, fields, index and so on. It is an image that can only be displayed in the Mapinfo window.

Here, table in Mapinfo refers to pure data table or

table containing both data and graphical

information, but excluding raster table.Note:


Mapinfo table consists of the five

types of files listedxxx (file name).tab: used to describe

data structure

xxx (file name).map

can be either a pure data file or a

data-graphical information joint file.

xxx (file name).id

An index file created when using

[Find] command.

xxx (file name).ind

When a table contains graphical

information, ID file acts as the

index of the graphical files to joint

the data and the graphical

information.

xxx (file name).dat/xls/dbf

Database file as the data source of

an Mapinfo table. Can be either

EXCEL or FOXBASE files.



Mapinfo workspace Workspace is a set including multiple tables in a map window. Here, a set is one that composes of multiple paths to open the relative tables instead of that containing multiple of tables physically. The user can save the current workspace after opening all necessary tables, and then open the workspace directly if those tables are required again next time. Wednesday, April 12, 2023www.tempustelcosys.com


RasterRaster is a kind of bitmap since it is composed of numerous picture points. Activate the

raster first before creating a vector map. Mapinfo raster supports the following types of files: xx*.gif, xx*.jpg, xx *.tif, xx *.pxc, xx *.bmf (windows bitmap), xx *.tda, xx *.bll (spot satellite map).

Use of rasterAs background of Mpinfo mapAs an independent map As a reference for creating a vector map



Map layerGenerally, a map includes various

kinds of information, but only one kind of information is concerned during the analysis for a specific target. Therefore, it is recommended to create different layers for information of different kinds to make convenience for the specific analysis.

Generally, a layer corresponds to one Mapinfo table, but it can also corresponds to multiple tables by seamless map layers

Layers can be classified into cosmetic layers, seamless map layers and standard layers.

Layer control includes the following options (in the form of checkboxes): Editable, Auto Label, Selectable, Visible.



Map layersLayer control

Right click in the [Map] window to select [Layer Control], then make the corresponding settings in it:



Map layers

Layer Control“Remove“

Remove one or more layers from

the map. In fact, the act only

removes the layer from the current

windows instead of the memory,

and they can be restored by

clicking <Add> in the [Layer

Control] dialog, unless they have

been removed by clicking

[File/Close Table].

“Add”

Add one or more layers to the map

window. Choose from the listbox of

opened tables.

“Label”

Available only when the selected

layer is not a Thematic layer or

Raster layer. Click to open the

Label Options dialog. Use this

dialog to specify label attributes for

map layers.



Map layersLayer Control

“Display”Use this dialog box to specify display attributes for map layers.

“Thematic”Choose to display the [Modify Thematic Layer] dialog box. Use this dialog to modify the attributes of a thematic map.

“Reorder”Use the “UP” and Down” buttons to modify the relative pisition of the current layer



Objects in an map

DotLineregion



Toolbar is a group of commands possessing a certain features. It is a kind of short cut menu and can be placed anywhere in the screenTool Manager

Tool Manager, as shown below, is used to manage toolbars.

Mapinfo Toolbars

Mapinfo toolbars includes:Main toolbar

Drawing toolbar

Standard toolbar

Tools toolba


Mapinfo Table MaintenanceMapinfo table maintenance

Maintain table structure : [Table/Maintenance]

Update data in a table : [Table/Update Column]

Combination : [Table/Combine Objects using Column]

Rename table : [Table/Maintenance/Rename Table]

Table import/export : [Table/ Import/Export

Here, we only give an introduction

to “Update Column” and use it as

an example for other operation.Wednesday, April 12, 2023www.tempustelcosys.com

Mapinfo Table MaintenanceUpdate data in a table using the [Table/Update Column] menu Update Column allows you to change a column's value based on its own data or data from another table automatically, it will alleviate your work. This is done by using the special joint between two tables, usual the cell name, to update the data in one table or import the data from one table to another

Operating steps: Create a table (usually using

excel), and input the data to be added and the joint data.

Open the two tables in Mapinfo.


Mapinfo Table MaintenanceUpdate data in a table using the [Table/Update Column] menu

Operating steps:Select [Table/Update Column]

to pop up the [Update Column] dialog, as shown below. Choose the table to be update, then choose the source table, finally choose the column to be updated.



Operating steps:Following the above, make the

corresponding settings in the [Specify Join] dialog box, as shown below.



Operating steps:Following the above, then

specifying the process for the return result and click <OK> to update the table. 1. Calculate

Specifying the process for the return result: A. Get the result directly;B. Doing some special process for the return result and then use it as final result 2. Of

Specify values stored in a single column or

a mathematical expression based on multiple columns.


Mapinfo Major Operations

SQL Select and FindLabeling function Create Mapinfo Thematic MapConfigure raster image and create vector mapOutput the screen with layout windowPerform drive test analysis using MapinfoLabeling network indices geographically


“SQL Select” and “Find”

SQL SelectStructure Query Language (SQL)

provides a powerful query platform that makes a feature of simple language and convenient operation. SQL platform presents a graphical dialog to facilitate selecting data source and query conditions, and generates SQL sentence before executing the SQL sentence. Finally, it generates a temporary table to display the results, as shown below.



textbox


FindThis function help to find the

desired information correctly and quickly, then display the information in the map in a specified form.



Operating steps:Select [Query/Find] or press

the key combination “Ctrl+F” directly. If this command is used for the first time, the dialog box on the left pops up, prompting to input the corresponding settings. If otherwise, that on the right pops up.


Keep them as blank generally

Select the mode to

display the results

Operating steps:Input the corresponding

information in the blank text box and then click <OK> to display the results. Select one from the results displayed and click <OK> pop up an dialog as below.


Label

In Mapinfo system, the user can specify

the content, position and style of labels.

The user can either label the object

with the content of a particular column

in a table or create an expression to set

up and display custom labels.

By choosing label lines, the user

can control whether a line or arrow

connects the object you want to label,

or position the label to fall in a

particular location relative to the object.

The user can control the look of the

label by choosing different fonts.

Operating steps:

Right click in the [Map] window to

select [Layer Control], and then select

the layer to be labeled and click

<Label>.


Label

[Label Options] dialog


Set the position of the label

Select the source of the

label

Create Mapinfo Thematic MapCreate thematic map

Based on the data from the table, use different kind of color, character and graphic to display the object. Thus the data can be geographically, directly and visually display on the map window.


Create Mapinfo Thematic Map

Operating steps:In the menu bar, Click map,

choose “create thematic map” , use the right window to select thematic map type (In the following section, we use “ranges thematic map” as an example)

In the right window, select data source for the thematic map


Create Mapinfo Thematic MapOperating steps:

Customize the pattern of the thematic map. For thematic maps of different types, different dialogs will pop up. Referring to the “receiving signal level analysis” for more explanation.


Register Raster Image and Create Vector MapRegister raster image

Raster image is some kind of bitmap. Register raster image can make it contain both longitude and latitude. It is recommended to choose at least three special points, such as the road cross, school, hotel and so on, and then measure both the longitude and the latitude with GPS for them. The points can’t belong to the same straight line. For the points, the more the better.


Register Raster Image and Create Vector MapOperating steps:

Find at least three points that must not in the same line .

Measure both the longitude and the latitude with GPS

In the Mapinfo, select [File/Open Table] to pop up the [Open Table] dialog. Select [Raster Image] and then select a file, click <Open>. In the popped up dialog, click <register> to pop up the [Image registration] dialog box. Click <projection> to pop up the [choose projection] dialog box. Select “Longitude/Latitude” in the [Category] pull-down list. For the [Category members] pull-down list, it is set as per the projection mode selected (i.e. Longitude/Latitude (WGS84). Finally, click <OK>.



In the map, click the points measured before one by one to pop up the [add control point] dialog box. Input the longitude and latitude for [Map X] and [Map Y] respectively. Finally, click <OK> to finishing configuring the raster image, as shown below.


Register Raster Image and Create Vector MapCreate vector map

Create a vector map using the registered raster image as the reference. The vector map is a standard digital map file that can be opened by many software applications.

Operating stepsOpen the raster image file

configuredSelect [File/New Table], and then

make sure to check [Add to Current Mapper] in the popped up dialog. Click <Create> to pop up the [New Table Structure] dialog box. Following the above, click <Add Field] and then input the field information including “Name”, “Type” and “Width”. Add more fields in this way.

Then click <Projection> to select “Longitude/Latitude” (the same projection category with that of the raster image file).

Finally, click <Create>.



In the [Create New Table] dialog box, input the file name before click <Save>. Then, two tables can be viewed in the title bar of the [Map] window. One represents the vector map, and the other represents bitmap. Right click in the [Map] window to select [Layer Control] to make sure that vector map is editable

Drawing the vector map as per the raster image with the Drawing Toolbar. Select the polyline and right click to select [Object /Smoth].

Save the vector map in the following four files: XXX.dat, XXX.tab, XXX.id and XXX.map. Then it is available either in the Mapinfo or others.


Using Layout Window to Configure OutputSelect [New Layout Window] to pop up the dialog as below then configure the layout window.


Mapinfo can help to perform drive test analysis by displaying drive test results in various graphics modes and processing measurement data. The major methods include creating thematic map, labeling and statistics. The most used analysis includes:Receiving level analysisReceiving quality analysisCell coverage analysisResults output


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoReceiving level analysis

Create a thematic map by taking the receiving levels gotten from the drive test as the data source of the thematic map, to display the receiving levels in the Mapinfo window as per the actual test path, as shown below.


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoSteps:

Convert the file obtained through the drive test into the TAB file that can be identified by the Mapinfo. Open the drive test file, and meanwhile the map file.

Click [Map/Create Thematic Map] to pop up the [Create Thematic Map] dialog. Click <Ranges> in the dialog.


Drive Test analysis using Mapinfo

Steps:Select the data sources of the

thematic map. Here the data sources are the drive test table and the receiving level in it, as shown in the upper right figure.

Click <Next> to pop the dialog shown in the lower right figure, and then make the corresponding settings



Following the above, select “Customize” to divide the receiving level into segments, and then set the number of ranges before clicking <Recalc>, then input both the Max. and the Min. values and then click < Recalc>. Mapinfo will calculate both the number and the percentage of the measurement results in each range. Finally, click <OK>.


Select

custom

Set Max.

and Min

value

Set number

of ranges


Following the above, make the corresponding settings as below.


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoDrive Test analysis using Mapinfo


Following the above, customize the legend as below.


Save the settings as a

template


Thus finish the receiving level analysis, as shown below.


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoCell coverage analysis

Mapinfo can help to perform cell coverage analysis with its labeling function. It labels the data (such as LAC+CI) that can identify an exclusive cell on the drive test path so that the user can know which cell is the current service cell and then optimize the network coverage, as shown below.


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoOutput analysis results

There are three methods to output the measurement results after drive test analysis. Copy the screen and then do

some specific process Use [File/Save Window As]Use [Window/New Layout

Window]Layout window is preferred to output the analysis result. It uses WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) manner. This makes it more effective and accurate comparing to other two.Select [File/Save Window] of the layout window to output the measurement results, as shown below.


Drive Test analysis using MapinfoOutput analysis results


Geographically Labeling Network IndicesGeographically Labeling network indices

Create a thematic map for network indices. The specific operating steps are given below.1. Add a column in the BTS

topological table to lay the network indices

2. Open the EXCEL file including the network indices in Mapinfo, and the corresponding TAB file will be generated automatically.

3. Import the network indices into BTS topological table according to the previously mentioned operation: Update column. (page

4. Create a thematic map for the network indices according to the previously mentioned operation: Create thematic map. (page


introduction to mapinfo

Technology

mapinfo raster

raster table

seamless map layers

map window

thematic map

mapinfo window

map layers layer control

independent map