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Q. What is Microsoft MapPoint?
A. MapPoint is business mapping software that helps you visualize your data on information-rich maps, integrate maps into the work you do in Microsoft Office and provide trip routing with turn-by-turn directions for better trips. Use MapPoint to:
- Map your data—from database sources including Office Excel®, Office Access®, Microsoft SQL Server®—to show important data relationships, identify business trends, and illustrate opportunities. Create maps using custom Map Settings to display your data with selected details. Easily hide roads, geographic boundaries and labels for clear routes and directions.
- Arrive on time with detailed maps, directions and optimized stops. Send You can plan your trip on your PC and then print, or send your route to your GPS device.*
- Integrate maps, routing, business intelligence, fleet tracking, demographics, and geographical data into your business solutions. The MapPoint object model allows application developers to automate and extend MapPoint functionality by creating COM add-ins or by using the ActiveX® control to embed MapPoint functionality into custom applications.
Q. What is new in Microsoft MapPoint? Why upgrade?
A. The new version of MapPoint builds on the success of previous versions with:
- Refreshed data.
Use updated geographic data in MapPoint to display trends and illustrate key points on maps. - Map Settings.
Create maps using custom Map Settings to display your data with selected details. Easily hide roads, geographic boundaries and labels for clear routes and directions. Choose whether cities, highways, local roads and parks show on your map. More pushpins. Get all of the pushpin images from previous MapPoint versions—over 300 included.You can even hide a group of pushpins without deleting. Navigation and Sharing. Create routes, share with others and send them to your navigation device.* - GPS Ready.
Plan your trip on your PC and then print, or send your route to your GPS device.* - Easy to reroute.
Drag-and-drop your route to go around a road or area. - Show in Bing™ Maps.
Quickly find listings when online and add them to a route. Use descriptive words such as “coffee” and “restaurant” to find points near your location.
Q. How does MapPoint integrate with Office applications?
A. MapPoint is designed to work with Microsoft Office programs.
- Create maps from data stored in current versions of Microsoft Office Excel, Office Access, Office Outlook, SQL Server, or other database sources.
- Insert maps into Office Word documents and PowerPoint presentations to illustrate everything from sales performance and customer locations to new business opportunities.
- Take advantage of the extensible MapPoint object model to build custom business solutions such as fleet tracking and business intelligence.
Q. Will there be an evaluation version of MapPoint?
A. Yes. The MapPoint evaluation version is available now to customers in the United States and Canada.
- Order the free evaluation DVD for the cost of shipping and handling.
- Download the evaluation software from the Microsoft Download Center. (Large file download—high-speed Internet connections only.)
- Try the MapPoint Test Drive online in your browser now.
Q. What is the difference between MapPoint with GPS Locator and MapPoint Standard?
A. MapPoint with GPS Locator includes the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. MapPoint standard does not include a GPS device, but it may be used with your existing device provided it supports NMEA 2.0 or later.
Q. What is the map and demographic coverage for MapPoint North America?
A. Microsoft MapPoint North American Maps (NA) includes detailed geographic coverage for the United States, Canada, and Mexico (cities and major highways only). Coverage outside of those regions is limited to political boundaries and populated places. MapPoint NA includes more than 200 demographic and consumer profile variables in the United States from data supplied by Applied Geographic Solutions, Inc. (AGS). Microsoft provides an additional 45 country-level variables around the world. Currently MapPoint does not include Canadian variables.
Q. What is the country coverage for European edition of MapPoint?
A. MapPoint 2010 European Maps edition is scheduled to ship in early 2010. In brief, the European edition of MapPoint provides detailed street-level maps and address find capability for Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, the MapPoint European edition provides some street-level coverage, but does not support address find, for Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Vatican City.
Q. How do I export large maps from within MapPoint?
A. Change your monitor resolution to the supported maximum setting. On the MapPoint Standard Toolbar, click File, and then “Save as Web Page." Increase the Map Size pixels setting to 3500 x 3500 (the maximum supported size). Save the file.