Introduction

There are all sorts of ways to create a map using MapLink Pro Studio, but the following sequence can be recommended for newcomers to MapLink Pro and in cases where relatively simple maps are needed.

Create a Project

At this stage you can choose to use an existing Feature Book, which may significantly reduce the time spent setting up the feature rendering.

Add Layers to the Project

If you are going to create a multi-layer map largely from a single data source, with different processing and rendering options to configure the appearance of each layer, then start with the layer that will provide the finest level of detail.

Add Datasets to the Layers

If you are combining data from different datasets within the project you may need to define the input coordinate system for the dataset. You may also wish to reduce the quantity of data loaded into the project by extent or feature class, using input clipping and feature masking respectively.

Add Data to the Datasets

If the data is supplied in a configurable dataset format, you may wish to set up the format configuration at this point.

Render the Data using the Feature Book

Define the Output Coordinate System , which is the coordinate system that will be applied to the whole map. It is best to define the output coordinate system at a reasonably early stage of the project. Your specific application requirements may often dictate that a particular projection must be used. If this is so, it helps to set up the output coordinate system as early as possible, so that you always have a good impression of how the data will appear in the run-time application.

For each layer in the map, configure the processing options that will help to ensure that the created map has the desired appearance and performance:

• Apply geodetic clipping or output clipping to the layer, if necessary.
• Apply filtering to the layer if the data in the layer contains details that will never be visible when the layer is loaded, and if run-time performance is otherwise likely to be a problem.
• Define the tiling scheme that is to be used for the layer. Tiling is almost always used for all but the top layer of a multi-layer map, to help maximise run-time performance. The precise number of tiles needed for any given layer can only be determined by experience, but in general you should aim to create output tiles that are mostly not much larger than 100 Kbytes each.

Define the layer loading strategy , which determines how each layer within the map will be loaded into the run-time application.

Create the output map .

Check that the output map works as you expect, using the MapLink Pro Map Viewer . This can be invoked from the MapLink Pro Studio menu (using Tools | Map Viewer ).

Is your map still not fast enough? Have a look at the tips for fast maps , to see how you can improve matters.