It has been some time I have not added on our site some "files from other origins". Today, I have attached a couple of them from the same author, Lorne Ketch. They deal with essentially the same problem: converting sets of punctual sequential observations into "track lines"; we have many examples of them such as GPS output, storm observations (very timely, eh!) etc. Track lines can be made of sets of detached but continuous segments with the advantage that all the tabular data is preserved (the last observation data can be stored in an optional extra point), or as polylines easier to handle but without significant information attached to it. In both cases the applications can handle multiple track lines in the same file if a "break" column can be used to detect the beginning of a new set.
They work in two different environments. One is an automated Excel book; the data is inserted in one worksheet, some parameters added (like the coordsys, the choice of output structure) and a pair of MID/MIF files is produced, ready for import in MI. The other is a MBX application that starts with a MI table of points or with a DBF data set (similar to what could be input in the XLS application) and produces a MI table of polylines or of sets of continuous segments (if one starts with a DBF file, he can also get a table of points). I know that Lorne prefers the XLS solution (it is so well written I never thought Excel was running it); it certainly is a very good tool for learning all about track line concepts and constraints. I am more familiar (I worked a little bit on it) with the all-MapInfo solution that hides so much of what is happening behind the scene and of course it is my favorite. To you to decide which one you prefer. Available at www.paris-pc-gis,com/download.htm in the "files from other origins" section, way at the bottom of the list. _______________________________________________ MapInfo-L mailing list MapInfo-L@lists.directionsmag.com http://www.directionsmag.com/mailman/listinfo/mapinfo-l
