Getting the most out of MAPublisher is a rewarding task, but may involve rethinking the way that you currently use Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. This is especially so if your present expertise is mostly on the DTP side, rather than being used to a Geographic Information System. Many MAPublisher users have found that a training course was extremely useful. It will more than repay the investment because you will:

We are quite flexible as to the topics to be addressed, but our suggested course would cover the following aspects of the product:

1. Importing and Exporting data using MAPublisher

This includes the establishment of the co-ordinate system within Freehand/Illustrator, registering map data correctly, understanding how map co-ordinates relate to DTP page co-ordinates, correct positioning of the map, and pitfalls to beware of. You will look at MapInfo, ArcView and DXF file import, and the considerations you need to look at in order to be able to export your documents back to a GIS format. Points may also be generated by importing geocoded spreadsheet tables. New features in Version 5 include point generation by typing in Lat/Long values.

2. Scale and projection conversions

Within MAPublisher scale and projection are set independently for each layer. You will see how this gives you the ability to do inset maps, and explore related issues. See how scale conversions work, and what can be achieved. Also explore changing the projection of your map.

3. MAPublisher attributes

What are attributes and what purpose do they serve? You will look at how MAPublisher holds attribute information, how you can add to or delete columns from the database. Procedures for editing attribute data, and undertaking mathematical calculations on attributes (for example to calculate a percentage). You will also look at importing spread sheet tables and establishing relational joins to map objects. New in Version 5 is the ability to move data to other layers while preserving the attributes.

4. MAPublisher legends

You will find out how to create and use legends, and what to use them for. Legends give you the ability to create thematic maps quickly, rapidly apply symbolisation to complex drawings, and alter feature styles easily. Legends can also be used as a template for repetitive map creation, for example for the pages of an atlas. You will also look at why you should use fonts for applying icons and symbols.

5. MAPublisher queries

How to quickly find things using the attributes, and how queries can be used to accelerate symbolisation and editing. Queries can be used, for example, to ensure that objects are rapidly sorted into the correct drawing order within a layer.

6. MAPublisher text

   You will learn how to generate the names for your map. This includes horizontal names for objects and baseline names (for example for roads and rivers). See why preprocessing of layers can help to reduce name placement work. This includes a practical application of queries. You will also cover the creation of a grid, and use of the grid for index generation and output of index files for type-setting.

7. Other MAPublisher Tools

Explore various other tools including graticules, neat lines, north arrows, and scale bars. Use of MAPublisher Tables, for example to import Excel data and relate this to map objects.

8. Conclusion
   
   We will conclude the day with an exploration and discussion of subjects of particular interest to you.

The sessions are punctuated with tutorial exercises to give you practical experience of using the MAPublisher tools. The exercises use sample data supplied by Bartholomew and XYZ.

The above provides quite a full day on the product, but should cover most of the issues. We are quite happy to provide training for either one person, or more. It is more economical for you to have two or more people in the group, but four is what we would normally suggest as the maximum.

Contact us to book your Training Course

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