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SpatialNews Product Review
Manifold GIS 4.5
By:
James Burn ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), James Burn B.Sc, GIS (PG) - (Feb. 2001)
Manifold� System GIS is billed as a full-featured package with serious spatial and
network analytics for only $145. It boasts such features as a full solver/scripting
development environment that uses Microsoft standards like ActiveX and Visual Basic scripting,
as well as the ability to perform Spatial SQL,Point-in-Polygon Spatial Overlay, Buffer Zones, Voronoi Cells, Reachable (Drive Time) Zones,
Automatic Contour Generation, Surface and Point Interpolation and advanced spatial statistics.
James Burn has generously offered the GeoCommunity his views of the product - GeoCommunity editor
System Requirements
Minimum:
150Mhz Pentium PC
Win 95+MS Internet Explorer 4
48 mb RAM
50 mb disk space
SVGA 800x600 graphics
What You Get: A code to download the program from the internet
Manifold CD-Rom mailed to you (no manuals)
Cost: $145 US
Introduction
When considering GIS products, a few things immediately come to mind. Company
names like ESRI and MapInfo, beautiful maps, and of course, very hefty price tags. It is
into this fray that Manifold ventures with its own GIS package, priced at $145. At first,
one might think that this is some sort of light weight product. However, Manifold GIS
4.5 is extremely powerful, and can easily go toe to toe against more expensive products
like Esri�s ArcView 3.2 or MapInfo 5. If your main question is �can it do what I need�,
the answer is likely yes.
The Good
Manifold comes with a great deal of power - and this power is evident in many ways.
Most common data formats are supported; *.E00, shape files (.SHP), MapInfo MID/MIF,
DXF, Tiger files, and others. Importing and exporting appears to work seamlessly. One
very useful feature is the fact that any and all of these formats can be opened or added to
the current project in the same manner, using the same dialogue box. This allows for a
great deal of continuity and ease while working. One of the other ways that Manifold
makes life easier for users is that fact that the program appears to be 100% MS Windows
compliant. This means that all of the dialogue boxes (colour for example) and button
bars are those that you would expect to find with any other Windows program. Manifold
also includes an excellent online manual that is (conveniently) available in MS Word
format. The document can be viewed at the Manifold website. The layout is quite nice,
using an Excel tab style, where you can choose and organize layers.
Inserting new layers/maps is easy.
Enough of the surface features. Upon delving into the program, one finds that Manifold
uses MS Access as its primary database format (Access 97, not 2000). This can be very
convenient for MS Office users. Manifold can also use any Active X scripting, such as
visual basic, as a scripting language for those who like to program their own code. Users
also are provided with the ability to publish information to MS MapPoint if they so desire
- a rare option you won�t find in other desktop GIS programs.
The program comes with dozens of �solvers�. It is by using these solvers that you can
buffer, perform network analysis, build areas, create contours, perform statistical
operations and much more. A growing list of solvers can be downloaded from the
internet. These solvers are incredibly powerful and plentiful (literally dozens) and are the
real power behind Manifold.
A listing of the various solvers. Check out the web site for the full list.
The power of solvers is increased when viewing the �Results History Window�. This is a
window that can be opened (opens automatically when a solver is active) and keeps track
of all changes and calculations. This allows users to quickly see what has been done.
An example of the Results History Window.
Any GIS program worth its weight has to be able to do queries. In Manifold, queries
come in two flavours: simple and complex. As stated above, Manifold uses Access as its
database format. This means that any MS Access query is possible. Quick and simple
queries can be performed from a tool bar, which can optionally be left open and remains
out of the way.
Another feature that is worthy of note is the legend creator. It has to be one of the easiest
legend tools I�ve ever had the opportunity to use (and I�ve used my share).
The last plus is of course the price.
The Bad
Of course, every program has a flaw, or a few. One of the first glaring problems could be
considered is the fact that Manifold has no support for raster images. Manifold is
completely a vector GIS (although version 5 is expected to have support for raster
images). This leads to a couple of problems; one is the fact that you can�t include a raster
image as a background, and more importantly, there is no way to digitize within the
program. The digitizing can easily be overcome by digitizing in a CAD program and
then importing as a DXF file. Another missing piece is that of a geocoder. Manifold�s
explanation for this is a cost benefit.
One big surprise is the lack of an �undo� button. Curious considering how much
Manifold prides itself on being �Microsoft Compliant�. The other main problem is that
of nomenclature. All programs are different, and like to use their own terminology -
Manifold is no different. Just try to remember that Map = layer or view and workspace =
project.
The last source of aggravation is that of printing layouts. Layouts are created within a
very small window, and only show frames of objects. I found it easier to perform screen
captures and inserting them into other programs.
Companions
While this is a review of the Manifold GIS system, some of the add-ons should be
mentioned. While the Manifold system is quite complete - and has many tools (solvers)
which will allow you to do such things as network analysis - there is also a �Business�
add-on which will enhance this feature. For 3-D rendering and analysis, there is the 3-D
View studio. This is a separate program that will work with any database program, and
can render DEM�s quite well. There is also a �Topology Factory� which allows for the
quick and easy fixing of drawings, much like the node and line edit features accomplish
in ArcInfo.
Conclusion
The Manifold system is an incredibly powerful piece of software. This also
means that, while the online help and manuals are very good and complete, expect the
learning curve to be quite steep for beginners. Clearly a great deal of effort has gone into
creating this program. To find out if it is for you, go to their web site at
http://www.manifold.net, where you can also check out the entire help manual online.
At the end of the day, The Manifold system is a rock solid program, capable of meeting
almost all of your GIS needs, and the price makes it very attractive. Version 5 (due out in
the first quarter of 2001) promises to raise the bar even higher.
About the Author
James Burn lives in the Niagara area in Ontario Canada.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Brock University and is
currently completing a post graduate degree in GIS. James has worked with engineering
firms and has a strong interest in municipal infrastructure. Heis
currently working on a project with the City of Niagara Falls to create a
web based GIS system that will tie together all fields of infrastructure
(roads, water and sewer). His website can be found at
www3.sympatico.ca/grail
(c)GeoCommunity 2001 - Reproduction or retransmission without the permission of the GeoCommunity and the author is strictly prohibited.
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