Golden Software: MapViewer 6 FAQ

Q1. How can I get the latest version of MapViewer?
A. Minor updates (e.g., version 6.00 to 6.01) may be downloaded for free if your serial number is registered. Connect your computer to the Internet, then click the Help | Check for Update command in MapViewer. This will download the latest patch and install it on your machine. Information about the latest version is listed on the Version History page.

If you experience any problems with this command or would like to download the full version of the updated software, please email your registered MapViewer 6 serial number to mapviewersupport@goldensoftware.com. Once your serial number is verified, we will send you download instructions.

Major upgrades (e.g. version 5 to version 6) cost US$79 plus shipping. Refer to the order form for more information.

Q2. Which versions of Windows are supported by MapViewer?
A. MapViewer works with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP or higher. Windows NT Version 4 with Service Pack 6 or higher is not specifically disallowed, but is no longer supported. MapViewer 6 will not allow installation on Windows 95.

Q3. When I open MapViewer, I am prompted to enter a serial number. Where do I find my serial number?
A. Your serial number is located on the inside front cover of your MapViewer 6 Getting Started Guide. Enter the serial number exactly as it appears on the card. Beginning with version 4 of MapViewer, once a serial number has been entered, you can also find your serial number by using the Help | About MapViewer command.

Q4. I cannot uninstall MapViewer 6.
A. When MapViewer is installed, several original source files are copied to a directory on your hard drive. These files are necessary to uninstall the software. If these files are deleted, the software cannot be uninstalled. To uninstall MapViewer, reinstall the previous version, then go through the uninstall process using the Control Panel.

Q5. Is Technical Support free?
A. Yes, Technical Support is free to all users for as long as you own the product. You must register your product in order to receive technical support. You can reach technical support by phone, fax, or email.

Q6. My pin map labels are overlapping, how can I move some of the labels?
A. You can click on the label and drag it to a new location in MapViewer 5 or 6.

Q7. How do I change the map's data file?
A. Use the change file button and select a new data file. If you have any user-defined settings (e.g., a hatch map with user-defined classes), you may need to reset them if the data ranges are different.

Q8. My symbols are running together in my symbol maps. What can I do about this?
A. Make sure the symbol line color is different from the symbol fill color. Open the symbol map properties, click the button in the symbol group, and then check the line and fill colors in the symbol properties dialog box. It can also be useful to make sure that boundary objects with small data values are arranged to the top of the drawing order, so that a small symbol isn't obscured by a larger one. Use Arrange | Sort Objects to sort objects by the linked data value.

Q9. When I print my map, the patterns appear as grayscale. How do I fix this?
A. In the pattern dialog box, the pattern name is listed at the top of the box followed by the pattern type. Use Stock patterns with Simulate stock hatch patterns checked in Tools | Options | General, or use Vector patterns and adjust the Scale Factor until the pattern prints properly. Do not use Bitmap patterns when printing to high-resolution printers or plotters as they will appear as grayscale rather than as patterns.

Q10. I do not like how my [pie chart, bar map, symbol, line graph, posted data] is positioned relative to its boundary. How do I move it?
A. These map items are positioned relative to the boundary object's centroid. To move them:

Select the area or curve for the map item you want to move.
Select Boundary | Move Centroids.
The cursor changes into a four arrow cursor and a cross appears on the area or curve. Click the cross and drag it to the desired location. The related map item will be placed on the new location.

Q11. How do I utilize the georeferencing information associated with a georeferenced bitmap?
A. To import a georeferenced bitmap, use the Map | Base Map command to open the Import Boundary File dialog. In this dialog, check the Specify import options check box and then choose your bitmap file. In the following Bitmap Import Options dialog, choose the bitmap georeferencing source from the Spatial Reference list. Click OK and the bitmap is loaded with georeferenced coordinates.

REMEMBER! The Specify import options check box must be enabled to utilize georeferencing information.

Q12. I would like to use international characters in my text strings in MapViewer.
A. MapViewer was designed to use English characters. Double-byte and 16-bit Unicode international characters are not supported in Golden Software products.

Q13. How can I create custom symbols for MapViewer?
A. Since MapViewer can use any TrueType font on your system for symbols, a TrueType font editor will let you create your own symbol sets. There are numerous font editors available. Two that we have heard of people using are:

Softy (shareware), and
TypeTool from Pyrus (commercial)

You can also use the Altersym editor from the DOS versions of Surfer and Grapher to create symbols.

Q14. I have invested in Adobe typefaces. How do I use these typefaces with Golden Software products?
A. Since Golden Software's applications are 32-bit, we only support the TrueType scalable typeface technology. If you have a significant investment in Adobe Type 1 faces (i.e., you are using ATM under Windows), we recommend converting them to TrueType format so they may be used with Golden Software products. Not only will you be able to use them with our software, you will be able to use them with any Windows program. We recommend TypeTool by Pyrus for this purpose.

Q15. I have a lot of information in my data files for my maps. Is there any way to speed up the processing of the information when making the map?
A. There are two ways you can improve the processing speed when making a map with a lot of data.

To optimize the speed of the worksheet data searching and calculation, one should sort the worksheet according to the PID column in ascending order before creating a map. The sorted worksheet helps MapViewer find a cell much faster. If the data are used repeatedly, it is a good idea to save the data after it is sorted. All worksheet files distributed with MapViewer are already sorted according to the first column.
Another factor that affects the speed of worksheet data searching and calculation is having unlinked data. You can remove the data rows not linked with the map (except the column header row) from the worksheet by using the Edit | Delete Unlinked Data command in the worksheet window. If possible, also remove the boundaries not linked to worksheet data.

Q16. When I import a map onto an existing map, the imported map is not in its proper position. What am I doing wrong?
A. When you import a map into an existing map window, make sure that the Append image check box is checked in the Import Boundary File dialog box. This will align the coordinates of the maps.

Q17. When I select an area and try to crop a bitmap with it, the Image | Crop Bitmap command is inactive. What am I doing wrong?
A. To crop a bitmap with an area object, you need to select both the area object and the bitmap you wish to crop. To select multiple objects, hold down the Shift key while clicking on each object in the map window or hold down the Ctrl key while clicking in the Object Manager. Once both objects are selected, the Image | Crop Bitmap command should be available.

Q18. I want to use two different map types (e.g., a density map with a hatch map) and display them on the same map, but MapViewer only lets me select one map type at a time. How can I display more than one type of map?
A. MapViewer lets you combine as many map types as you want. However, you can only have one map type per layer. Create one map type on the existing layer. Then, click the New Layer toolbar icon or use the Map | Layers command to open the Layers dialog. In the Layers dialog, click the New Layer button, then OK. You can then create the second map type on the new layer.

Q19. How do I change the name of a Primary ID on my map?
A. Changing a Primary ID is simple to do in MapViewer.

Import the base map that you would like to change.
Click on the area to be renamed.
Enter the new Primary ID in the Object Manager PID field or click on the object to select it and enter the PID in the Object Descriptions section of the Property Inspector.

You will have to manually edit the primary ID in all worksheets associated with the map as well.

Q20. I have a map of the United States counties. How do I show the state boundaries around them?
A. StCounty.gsm in the MapViewer Samples folder is an example showing counties and state outlines for several contiguous states. To create a map like this:

Create or import your county map(s). Counties2000.gsb contains all the counties in the U.S.; Ak2000.gsb through Wy2000.gsb contain counties for the individual states.
Create a new map layer (Right-click and choose Create New Layer from the popup menu or use the New Layer toolbar icon.)
Import a map of the U.S. into this new layer. US50ll.gsb is a map of the 50 states.
Change the line color and thickness of the state outlines, and make sure the color fill pattern is set to None.

Q21. How do I create custom boundaries?
A. If your base map needs are not met by any digital map you have found in MapViewer or elsewhere, then you will need to create your own base map. There are several ways of doing this in MapViewer. Let's say you have areas defined by several counties, and you want to combine them into one area.

Select multiple counties by holding down the SHIFT key while you click on each county.
Once you have selected the all the applicable counties, go to Boundary | New Boundaries | Union of Areas. This command creates a new boundary that shows only the outer edges of the county boundaries you selected. Please refer to the online help for more information on Union of Areas options.
Once you have created the new area, assign it a Primary ID using either the Property Inspector or the Object Manager.

New areas can also be developed using the Draw | Area command. If you have some sort of base map to go on, you can simply draw areas on your screen free hand. If your areas follow along objects already in the map, you can trace the line exactly by holding down the CTRL key and dragging the pointer along that line.

If you have a paper map with the boundaries or if you have a lot of digitizing to do, we recommend using Didger to accomplish this task.

Q22. How do I limit a map using an ellipse, circle, rectangle, or rounded rectangle?
A. To use a symmetric shape object (rectangle, circle, ellipse, etc) for defining map limits, you must first convert the symmetric shape to an area. To do this, select the symmetric object and use the Boundary | Change Boundary Type | Symmetric Shape to Area command to convert it to an area object. Now you can select the area object and use the Map | Limits command to limit the map to the extents of the object.

Q23. I have a bitmap in the map window that is not part of the map itself (such as a company logo). When I change the projection of the map, the bitmap behaves as if it is part of the map and turns to nonsense. How can I change a map's projection without altering the bitmap?
A. Use the Tools | Options command to open the Options dialog. Check the Do not project bitmaps option to exclude bitmaps from projection conversions.

Q24. When I try to create a map, MapViewer says "There is no valid numeric data (within limits) in column __, or PID is invalid." What causes this?
A. This error is usually an indication that the data file and boundary file are mismatched, or that the data are text instead of numbers. Check the Primary IDs for the base map in the Object Manager, then go to File | Worksheet and check the Primary IDs in the data file. If the Primary IDs do not match, then the map cannot be created.

If the Primary IDs do match, check the data column used to create the map. If the data column is formatted as text, it will be left justified. Text cannot be used to create a map. To easily reformat the text in the data file as numbers, save the data file in an ASCII format, such as comma-separated-value (CSV), and use this file to create the map instead.

Q25. How do I create an Encapsulated PostScript file with MapViewer?
A. Beginning with MapViewer 6, you can export a map directly to EPS format using the File | Export command. The map is stored in the EPS file as a bitmap.

An alternative way to generate an EPS file is to print the map to a PostScript printer driver setup to print to a file. Follow these steps:

Click the Windows Start button.
Select Settings then Printers.
If you do not have a PostScript driver installed, click the Add Printer icon. Follow the directions and add any PostScript printer (usually PS appears in the printer driver's title).
Select FILE for the printer port.
Open the printer properties by right clicking on the printer and choosing Properties from the menu. Under PostScript output format on the PostScript tab choose Encapsulated PostScript (EPS).
To create an EPS file from MapViewer, choose File | Print and select the PostScript printer.
Next, the Print to File dialog box will be displayed. Enter the path and file name to use for the EPS file. Make sure to use the .EPS extension on the file. Click OK to write the map to an EPS file.

An EPS file produced in this manner does not contain a bitmap preview. Some software applications, including MapViewer, need this bitmap to display the image. If this is the case, use another export format in MapViewer, such as the Windows Enhanced Metafile (EMF), to generate the graphic to use in other software applications.

Q26. How do I create a PDF file with MapViewer?
A. Beginning with MapViewer 6, you can export a map directly to PDF format using the File | Export command. The map is stored in the PDF file as a bitmap.

If you Adobe Acrobat installed, you can also use it to create a PDF file. In that case, the PDF file is created using the File | Print command. In the Print dialog box, click the Name list down arrow and then choose Acrobat Distiller or Acrobat PDFWriter from the list of printer drivers. Click OK in the Print dialog box to create the file.

Q27. I have sent a GSB file to a colleague. When they try to use the GSB file, they get an error message stating that the file "does not appear to be in the correct format."
A. The GSB file was created in a newer format than your colleague's software supports. If you need to share GSB files with someone using older versions of Golden Software products, export the file with the GSB Version 4 option.

Q28. I have pasted my MapViewer map into another program and part of the map is missing.
A. If you have a multi-layer map, be sure to use the Edit | Copy All Layers command to copy all the layers. If you have used Copy All Layers and part of the map is still missing, you may need to edit the map or change a setting in the map.ini file. If you are using Windows 98 or ME, this problem can occur when an area or curve has over 5000 vertices (points). Use Boundary | Thin Boundary to thin out the number of vertices to a number less than 5000. Alternatively, open the map.ini file in the MapViewer folder and remove the semicolon from this line:

DecomposeMetafilePolygonThreshold=4000

Save the map.ini file and restart MapViewer. Try the copy and paste again. If parts of the pasted map are still missing, set DecomposeMetafilePolygonThreshold=1, save the map.ini file, restart MapViewer and copy and paste again. If that does not help, contact technical support.

Q29. I have added graticules to my map and have checked the Place graticules under map option, but my graticules still appear on top of the map. How can I place the graticules behind the map?
A. If the map contains only polylines or unfilled polygons, you will be able to "see through" the map to the graticules. Give the polygons a fill color and pattern to obscure the graticule behind them.

Q30. I want to show my map to someone without MapViewer. Do you have a viewer this person can download?
A. The demo version of MapViewer can be used to view the map. The demo is available at http://www.goldensoftware.com/demo.htm . All output capabilities have been disabled in the demo so the maps cannot be altered. Alternatively, you can send them your map as a metafile (EMF) or bitmap (TIFF, JPEG, etc.) since many programs read those file types.

Q31. Where can I find boundary files?
A. MapViewer boundary files and data files are located in the MapViewer Samples folder, on the MapViewer CD-ROM, and are available for download from our web site. If you do not find what you need on the CD-ROM, we suggest searching the web for boundary files. Try starting with our Useful Links page. The best formats for thematic mapping are Atlas Boundary (BNA), ESRI Shapefiles (SHP+DBF), or ESRI ArcInfo Export Format (E00). These formats carry Primary IDs, so you can create a thematic map with them directly. Other formats such as AutoCAD DXF, metafiles, and bitmaps can be used as reference maps, though they would have to be edited if you need to make thematic maps from them.

Q32. I have pasted a map into Word and the bottom and right side of the graphic is slightly cut off.
A. Usually, these graphics print fine although they do not appear complete in Word. To show the complete graphic in Word, add a white symbol at the lower right corner of your map before copying it.

Q33. I am having a problem printing ("Out of global memory" error, only a portion of the map prints, etc.).
A. These symptoms indicate that the printer has insufficient memory. You may be able to work around the problem by changing some of the printer settings. Different printer drivers have different settings, but here is a list of the most common remedies:

Turn off print spooling.
Change the print mode to "raster" or "bitmap" to reduce the printer memory requirements.
Change the printer driver to use the computer's memory instead of the printer's memory.
PostScript drivers often require more memory than non-PostScript drivers for the same printer. Change drivers if possible and test the print results.
Check for other compatible printer drivers in your printer documentation. For example, the HP LaserJet 4 driver could be used with the LaserJet 5 printer.
Enable the Page Protect mode if available.
Verify the version of your printer driver and possibly update it. For example, the HP DesignJet 750C driver version 4.33 requires 80% less memory than version 4.11.
Turn off View | Auto Redraw to free up additional memory.
Resample the bitmaps in a graphics program (Corel Draw, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoShop) to reduce the number of pixels and color depth in the bitmaps.

If the remedies above do not help, please contact technical support with the exact nature of the problem, your operating system (i.e. Windows 98), the printer model, and the print driver version number.

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