mapping programs

[Gary Noonan]

        The Windows version of Atlas GIS now includes digitizing, although I
haven't yet used this feature in Windows. Atlas GIS still suffers from the
frustrating problem of not directly producing output files such as CGM ones.
However, I've found a work around.  The program includes a menu choice for
copying the current map image into the Windows clipboard. I then paste  the
map image into a graphics program such as Micrografx Designer. The map
images are sometimes fairly complex, resulting in slow pasting into a
graphics program. Before I could get my old 1990 version 3.1  of Designer to
accept larger images from the clipboard, I had to install MoreMem. This is a
shareware program available via CompuServe (license $40) that regulates
memory use by Windows programs. It keeps various program components from
filling up lower memory ( that below 640 K). (Windows programs typically
require having a small part of their code reside in lower memory while most
of the code can be put into other memory. However, components of many
programs happily hog lower memory unless restrained. )  Before I install
MoreMem  I kept getting messages stating that the paste operation had failed
because of insufficient memory. However my computer has 48 megabytes of RAM,
and what was happening was that lower memory was getting all used up.
         A possible quirk of Atlas GIS is that images put into the Windows
clipboard often can't be pasted into HiJack Pro. The latter program is
designed to translate images between various formats. HiJack Pro technicians
say the fault is with Atlas GIS. However, since I can paste into Designer, I
suspect HiJack Pro is at fault.
         Possibly MAPINFO can paste information into the clipboard also.
        MoreMem  is available on CompuServe under the file name of mmem3.zip
in the Win System  Utilities forum. I've only been using it since yesterday.
         I apologize for the length of this message but believe that
colleagues may be experiencing difficulties in getting started in using GIS
software.--I certainly had some interesting experiences when I started.
         A final note. A earlier message from me informed users of the
availability of free geography files for Canada and the United States. These
files are still available for FTP and use in your GIS programs. Let me know
if you missed the posting several weeks ago about them. If a number of
people  ask for the posting, I'll repeat it to Taxacom. Otherwise I will
simply send the postings to individuals who request information.

At 12:19 PM 6/2/95 +1000, Robert Raven wrote:
>On Thu, 1 Jun 1995, Gary Noonan wrote:
>
>>         Atlas GIS might meet your needs. The June issue of Systematic
>> Biology will have a review of the DOS version. I now recommend the Windows
>> version. It does the same things for the most part as the DOS version but is
>> easier to use. You can read the forthcoming review and decide if the program
>> features meet your needs.
>>
>> At 09:41 AM 6/1/95 -0500, Kenneth A Christiansen wrote:
>> >Taxacom members-
>> >   I am searching for a mapping program which I could either scan in or
>
>We have examined four programs for mapping. We currenly use Mapinfo for
>Windoze but that is not as satisfactory as its DOS predecessot was,
>expecially in its inability to digitise in new maps and to export the
>maps as CGM files for use as 35mm slides. I understood that Atlas has
>exactly the same problem (it may have changed) and that their workaround
>was to give you free the DOS version which can digitise (etc?).
>
>The other one that looks good is ARCview for Windoze but that can't
>digitise either. You have to buy the full pack of ARCInfo which here in
>AUstralia is around $6000.
>
>The fourth one we looked at looks wonderful because it is written for
>several platforms and has almost full Unix power when running on an OS/2
>machine. That is Spans.
>
>If you want a copy of my bitch to the Mapinfo folk about its
>shortcomings, I'll be happy to oblige. You can see some of the maps I've
>done in Memoirs of the Queensland Museum vol 35 part 2, 1994.
>Good luck!
>Robert J Raven, Museum Scientist (Arachnology)
>Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia
>
>
>


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  * Gary Noonan, Curator of Insects, Milwaukee Public Museum  *
  * 800 W. Wells,  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 USA             *
  * and Adjunct Associate Professor of Zoology, University of *
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