Bosqmap Forms Manual

8/11/2019 Bosqmap Forms Manual

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BosqMap Forms - Version 1.2

User Guide


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BosqMap Forms Version 1.2 User GuidePage2 of 39

BosqMap Version 1.2 User Guide - Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................4

BosqMap files and how it works....................................................................................5

Installation......................................................................................................................5

Digitising and entering data ...........................................................................................7

Copying and pasting from other tables ..........................................................................8Viewing Data..................................................................................................................8

Info button ......................................................................................................................8

Search button................................................................................................................11

Adding, viewing and deleting photographs and documents: .......................................11

Linked Tables...............................................................................................................14

Designing and adjusting BosqMap Tables...................................................................16

# 1 - MapInfo Columns and BosqMap Display Order.................................................18

# 2 Selected column display and format options..........................................................19

A Column display options:........................................................................................19

B Data type options...................................................................................................19

C Data input/ display options....................................................................................20

BosqMap Input type ....................................................................................................20

Allow users to edit........................................................................................................20

Two characters high in BosqMap cols 24 32 ...........................................................20

Warn users when blank .............................................................................................20

Auto-complete..............................................................................................................20

D Associated column options....................................................................................21

Linked through tick boxes............................................................................................21

Linked through drop downs .........................................................................................22

# 3 Drop-down entries options.....................................................................................23

Renaming adding and deleting entries .........................................................................24

Importing drop-down lists............................................................................................24

From all entries in the column xxxx ............................................................................25From another dropdown column within xxxx .............................................................25

From entries within another column or another open table's column .........................26

From a text file (with entries separated by a carriage return) .....................................26

Table-wide options.......................................................................................................27

Auto-complete all columns ..........................................................................................27

Disable all columns ......................................................................................................27

Photographs, documents, linked tables on/ off ............................................................27

Multi-display expression..............................................................................................27

Photograph and document options ...............................................................................29

The Change Exp. Button .............................................................................................30

Linked tables settings ...................................................................................................31

Linked tables ...............................................................................................................31Expression ...................................................................................................................31

Table linked to xxxx..................................................................................................32

Location relative to xxxx.tab - ...................................................................................32

Display expression ......................................................................................................32

Preview, save and exit Options ....................................................................................34

Preview BosqMap input box .......................................................................................34

Save changes to .gjs file ..............................................................................................34

Save copy of .gjs file ...................................................................................................34


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Save and exit ...............................................................................................................34

Cancel ..........................................................................................................................34

Creating new BosqMap tables......................................................................................35

Blank table....................................................................................................................35

From existing .gjs file...................................................................................................35

Registering MapInfo Tables as BosqMap Tables ........................................................36

Saving Tables ...............................................................................................................37Toolbar and menu settings ...........................................................................................38

Passwords.....................................................................................................................38

Lost passwords .............................................................................................................38


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Introduction

BosqMap software is a .mbx program for MapInfo which enables the user toadd, view and edit data held in MapInfo tables, simply and easily link tables toother tables and link multiple photos and other files to map-objects. BosqMapcan display your existing MapInfo tables or can be used to design new ones.

BosqMap uses dynamic dialog boxes to display data in a standardised formatwith multiple options for data entry and viewing. It has been designed for usein the office and in the field and simplifies MapInfo data entry and collectionand minimises the scope for user error.

BosqMap can display your existing MapInfo tables or can be used to easilydesign new and customised ones. BosqMap does not modify MapInfo files(other than through the normal save procedure) so can be used in conjunctionwith other MapInfo applications.

Example screenshot1

Example screenshot 2


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BosqMap files and how it works

BosqMap works by placing a file (extension .gjs) in the same directory as theMapInfo .tab file; BosqMap reads this file which gives BosqMap theinstructions on how to display data. Additional modules such as LinkedTables, Photographs and Documentsare all referenced through this file.

Each column in a table can be displayed as Editable or Free Text, Dropdown lists (which can easily be imported) or as a tick box and up to 32columns can be displayed.

BosqMap uses .mbx files compiled in MapBasic to display the data andtherefore does not rely on external applications or programmes.

Installation

To install BosqMap extract the files from the .zip file and place the foldercontaining the extracted files in an appropriate location on the computer, i.e.

in the tools folder in the MapInfo program directory:

C:\Program Files\MapInfo\Professional\Tools

Or, on your desktopor in yourMy Documentsfolder.

In MapInfo go to:

Tools Tool manager

Then select add tool:


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Locate the BosqMap Folder by pressing the button and select the file:

BosqMaps-FullVers_1_2.MBX (Full Version) or

BosqMaps_ TrialVers1_2.MBX (Trial Version).

Enter BosqMap in the Title section and press OK (the add tool dialog shouldlook like it is below, the description section is optional):

In the Tool Manager Dialog select Loaded and Autoload:

Click OK and BosqMap is set-up and ready to go (you can download someexample tables and workspaces from www.bosqmap.co.uk)


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Digitising and entering data

Digitise data in BosqMap as you would in the standard MapInfo by using theBosqMap toolbar:

When a new object has been digitised the BosqMap data display dialog isshown users then complete the data fields:


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Columns can also be linked to other columns and the administrator can setwhich objects are to be viewed (this is an example of a Tree Surveyundertaken in the field using a Tablet PC; the administrator has designed thedialog box so that the Instructions for climbing inspection is only enabledwhen Climbing Inspection Required is ticked and is disabled and blank whenthe box isnt ticked).

Photos and documents can easily be added and there is no limit to thenumber of each associated with each object. Tables can be linked (forexample you may wish to see the previous years data or information about acertain type of tree).

Copying and pasting from other tables

Objects can also be copied and pasted from another layer, whether it is aBosqMap table or a MapInfo table (including the cosmetic layer), this isparticularly useful for copying objects from vector base-maps such asordnance survey MasterMap data:

To use this tool either click or drag in a map window, select the object that youwish to paste to the editable table and if it is a BosqMap table the BosqMapdata display dialog will be displayed, otherwise the object will be pasted intothe editable MapInfo table.

Viewing Data

Data is viewed using the info button - or the search button

Info button

The info button is used to select objects in a map window. The cursor iseither dragged or pointed and clicked this differs from the MapInfo infotool in which the cursor is just pointed and clicked

If more than one object in a BosqMap table is selected then the multiple-object dialog box is shown:


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Users can choose to centre the object in the front map window. To view thedata in theBosqMap data display dialogdouble click or select and press OK:


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Search button

The following dialog is bought up when the user clicks the search button -

A list of all BosqMap Tables is displayed and the user then creates a simplequery in this case all entries in the table ExampleTreeData where

Common_Name = Oak.

If more than one object is selected then the multi-object dialog boxis selected in this case 3 trees were Oak trees

Data is then displayed in theBosqMap data display dialog.

Adding, viewing and deleting photographs and documents:

To add photos or documents to objects the user presses the Photos orDocuments button on the BosqMap data display dialog. The photographdisplay dialogor document display dialogis displayed and the selects attach:


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The photos and documents name can beset to be a combination of columnsand free text, in this case the expression relates to the state then the countryand then the text 'election' (this data is from the 2000 US presidential electionfrom downloaded from directions mag)-

Permissions can be set so that users can attach and delete or view only.


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The location of photographs can be absolute or relative in relationto the.tabfileand there is no limit to the numbers of photographs or documents that canbe attached to each object.

This function can be particularly useful when setting up a file managementsystem for desk based users who may wish to see reports, invoices andphotos linked to a map object.

Links are retained with photos and documents, if a column changes and theuser tries to save the object, they will be asked if they wish to change thename of the associated photos and documents.

Screenshot showing document being viewed:


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Linked Tables

Linked tables is a very useful function. Users can link tables to oneanother based upon matching columns. Thus in the example below,several tables are linked:

The user has selected France by clicking on the country:

Then when they select linked tables, they get a list of options:


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In this case the user chose to select major cities in the same country, whichcan be viewed in the map window and the data (and associated photos anddocuments) can be seen:


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Designing and adjusting BosqMap Tables

Existing MapInfo tables can be registered as BosqMap tables, new tables canbe designed and altered by selecting Create or adjust BosqMap Table in theMapInfo file menu:

BosqMap Create or adjust BosqMap Table

This brings up the following dialog box:


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Select the option required (in this case we will alter the BosqMap Table BatRoost Potential - theBosqMap alter table structure dialogis displayed:

This is the dialog where the BosqMap tables are designed - it can be split intothe following areas:


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# 1 - MapInfo Columns and BosqMap Display Order

Area 1 dialog structure this shows the names of the MapInfo columns1 andwhere they will appear in the BosqMap data display dialog see diagrambelow:

Use the up and down buttons to adjust where the columns are be displayed intheBosqMap data display dialog.

The names in Area 1 of the Alter Table Structure dialog are the MapInfocolumn nameswhich are different to theBosqMap column display names(thismakes it possible to decide on the name as it is seen on the form).

When a column is added, renamed or deleted this alters the MapInfotable and not just the BosqMap display name, the layer will be removedfrom any window in which it is displayed (it is a good idea to save thecurrent workspace before modifying the MapInfo Table).

Include date stamp columns tick box this adds or removes the date stampcolumns (Date_Created and Date_Edited) and cannot be undone.

Show date stamps tick box allows the date stamp to be visible or invisible tothe BosqMap (displayed in the BosqMap data display dialog)

1The MapInfo column name is the name of the column in the MapInfo table. This can

differ from the name as seen in the BosqMap column display name for example the MapInfocolumn name might be Address1 and the BosqMap display name might be House name ornumber


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only allows a maximum string length of 254 so when designing tables withlong free text, consideration should be given to using more than 1 column(e.g. a notes 1 and a notes 2 column).

C Data input/ display options

This allows the user to set how data is input and viewed in the BosqMapdatadisplay dialog:

BosqMap Input type

this can be either Editable Text(Free Text) - Drop Down (only with a datatype of character) orTick Box(only with a logical [true/ false] data type):

Allow users to edit

if this is un-ticked then users cannot edit this column (it will be displayed butgreyed) the column will be automatically completed when adding newentries if this has been set

Two characters high in BosqMap cols 24 32

if checked edit text entries are 2 characters high if they are incolumns 24 -32within the BosqMapdata display dialog.

Warn users when blank

If a user presses Ok and the field is blank a warning message will bedisplayed asking the user to confirm that they wish this field to be blank (thiscannot be used with Tick Boxes).

Auto-complete

-If this is ticked, the auto-complete options are displayed:


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There are 2 options:

same as previous entry whereby each new entry has the same entry inthat field as the previous entry

increase by increments (up to 1000). (this is particularly useful for

surveyors where consecutive objects dont have to be manuallynumbered)

D Associated column options

This section allows columns to be linked there are two ways that columnscan be linked through tick boxes and through drop-down menus. The tickbox options are activated by using the Change Settings button (disabled if theinput type is editable text):

Linked through tick boxes

There are five options: Not linked to column, Grey when ticked, Grey andblank when ticked, Grey when un-ticked, Grey and blank when un-ticked.

This is useful as in the case below, where there is no loft space thereforethere is no need to enter data about the loft:


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To link a column select the appropriate option associated with the linkedcolumn (i.e. in the above example the column Loft_access is grey and blankwhen the column Loft_space is ticked) columns cannot be linked tothemselves.

Linked through drop downs

This is accessed through the change settings button as above and brings up

the following dialog box which lists all columns with the same number of drop-down entries:

To add a column press the Add column to expr. button. In this case the useris collecting tree data and in the majority of cases the spread is equal on allsides. Thus the column crown spread north (CS_N) is linked to crown spreadeast, south and west (crown spread east is linked to crown spread south and


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west and not to crown spread north) when the entry in the primary column isentry 1 (e.g. 1m in Crown spread north) the entry in the linked columns is also1 (e.g. 1m Crown spread east, south and west).

# 3 Drop-down entries options

Only fields/ columns with a data type of Character can be displayed in a drop-down box and the total string length of all entries in the list cannot exceed 800characters and entries cannot include commas or semi-colons.

The drop-down settings are located at:

The above gives a list of tree species which will display in the data displaydialogas:


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Entries can be moved up or down, added or deleted, sorted alphabetically orreverse-alphabetically and renamed.

Renaming adding and deleting entries

If an entry is renamed and the table contains entries that are the same (e.g.Oak is renamed Red-Oak) then the administrator will be asked if they wish toupdate the data in the MapInfo table. Similarly if an entry is deleted and anentry exists in the MapInfo table the user will be asked if they wish to changethese to a question mark ?.

To add an entry select the point in the list where the entry is to be added, type

the entry in the text box and click add. If the entry already exists it will not beadded and this is not case sensitive (i.e. ash is the same as Ash).

Importing drop-down lists

On pressing the import button the user is given the following four options(described below):


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From all entries in the column xxxx

- imports all unique within the data table i.e. all locations which are entered inthe table

From another dropdown column within xxxx

- imports the drop-down list from another column in the same table:


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From entries within another column or another open table's column

- imports the drop down list with all unique entries in another column

From a text file (with entries separated by a carriage return)

- text files need to be saved as .txt

With all drop-down imports users are prompted if the string length exceeds

the file column width or an entry contains semi-colons or commas.


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Table-wide options

This gives options for all columns:

Auto-complete all columns

when ticked all column entries are automatically completed

Disable all columns

when ticked all columns are disabled the user can only view data when

a table is Read Only this is ticked and disabled.

Photographs, documents, linked tables on/ off

These three buttons enablephotos,documentsandlinked tables

Multi-display expression

this is the expression that appears in themulti-object dialogbox to change

this press the and the create multi-column expression dialog box willshow:

To add a column to the expression select the required column i.e. ID andpress Add column to expr.. This will add the column to the expression if youwish to also display some text add the text below the list of columns and press


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Add column to expr. The above settings will simply show the Tree ID asseen below:

Whereas the following will show the tree number and the species:

Multi object dialog box:


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Photograph and document options

The photograph and document settings are essentially the same, with theexception that for documents there is no specification for the default filelocation.

Both photos and documents have tick boxes for the administrator to decidewhether to allow users to attach and view photos and files and whether or notthe files are cut or copied from their original location.

Photos and documents associated with a table are stored in the same folder(BosqMap copies or cuts the files and renames them) and if the location isrelativeto the table location i.e. if the table file is located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\BosqMap\tabfile.tab

And the photo/ document folder is located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\BosqMap\photographs\

Then the administrator will be prompted to confirm whether or not they wish toreference the full path of the folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\BosqMap\photographs\]

or the relative path

\photographs\

For photos the administrator can set the default camera location (useful forsurveyors).


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The Change Exp. Button

is used to change the photo and document expressions. This is very similarto themulti-display expression dialog box. Thus the following settings:

Will display the followingdisplay document dialog:

Whereby the .col1 part of the expression refers to a column and the/_document is text (i.e. documents will be named country column entryfollowed by an underscore and document so Documents associated withGermany would be named Germany_Document_X.doc). More than 1column can be used to reference files (although it is recommended that nomore than 2 columns are used)

Most common picture file types are supported as photos and all file types fordocuments. Photos and documents are displayed in the default windowsapplication for that file type as set on the machine.


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Linked tables settings

The linked table settings is a powerful option that allows users to link tablesand view data and objects from the other tables. The linked table settingssection on the main BosqMap settings dialog is as shown:

Linked tables

-gives a drop-down list of all linked tables currently implemented

Expression

-is the BosqMap expression and is shown for evaluation purposes only.

It is only possible to add a link to, or change the link settings of, an open tableand the administrator is double-prompted before removing any links.

To add or edit a link between tables click Add link or Edit link and thefollowing dialog will display:


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The above expression will produce the following titles for linked objects(accessed through theBosqMap data display dialog):

Column in xxxx this is the column in the base table which is to be linked tothe linked table.

Linked to xxxx column this is the column in the linked table which is to belinked to the base table.

In this example BosqMap selects all objects from the Table Major_Citieswhere the country is the same as the object selected in the base table (thereare 79 major cities in Spain).


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Preview, save and exit Options

There are several options for saving and previewing the settings:

Preview BosqMap input box

displays an emptydata display dialog.

Save changes to.gjs file

this saves the changes made without exiting the .gjs file is the file that

gives BosqMap its instructions on how to display the data

Save copy of.gjs file

this saves a copy of the current saved .gjs file useful if you wish to create

a table from an existing file.

Save and exit

save changes to the BosqMap settings and exits

Cancel

exits without saving


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Creating new BosqMap tables

When creating new BosqMap tables (File Create or adjust BosqMap Table)there are two options:

Blank table

A table with 1 column ID is created. The user is prompted to save the filewhich is then created and the BosqMap Alter Table Structure Dialog for thetable is populated.

From existing .gjs file

If an existing.gjsfile is used the user is prompted to select the exiting file andsave the table and the BosqMap Alter Table Structure Dialog is populated.


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Registering MapInfo Tables as BosqMap Tables

When a MapInfo table is registered as a BosqMap table it is not modified,instead a separate.gjsfile is produced which gives BosqMap the instructionsas to how to display the data, you can therefore easily and safely migrate yourtables to BosqMap. Press the Convert to (register as) BosqMap Table

button

Tables with a maximum of 32 columns can be imported into BosqMap (if youhave larger tables you may wish to consider splitting them into smaller tableswith less columns and linking them using the linked table function). Allcolumns are initially set as Edit Text and the BosqMap display order followsthat of the MapInfo table (in other words column 1 is the first column displayedin BosqMap data display dialog and column 32 is the last).


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BosqMap Version 1.2 User GuidePage38 of 39

Saving Tables

Tables are saved automatically every time the user presses Save on a datadisplay dialog. However if the user uses the standard MapInfo tolls to digitisedata (for example re-shaping a polygon) they will need to save as normal.

Saving copies of tables and queries

To save copies of BosqMap or queries from BosqMap tables use the Menuitem:

File Save copy of BosqMap Table

This will ensure that a copy of the .gjsfiles is saved with the .tab file and thatthe file can be opened.


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Toolbar and menu settings

By default, and each time it is loaded, BosqMap displays a reduced set oftoolbars and menus so that non-expert users cannot alter data except throughthe BosqMapdata display dialog. In order to view all MapInfo toolbars selectthe BosqMap menu and then menus and toolbars

BosqMap Menus and Toolbars

Users can be restricted to using the reduced set of toolbars and menus bysetting a password

After using the BosqMap reduced toolbar it will be necessary to re-load anycustom tools, these can be reloaded when the Menus and Toolbar Settingsare set to Standard MapInfo Menus and Toolbars.

Passwords

The password is set on each machine (and not defined per user). When seta password is required to:

Create or adjust BosqMap tables

Access the full MapInfo toolbars

Exit BosqMap

This helps to ensure that non-expert users cannot inadvertently alter data

except by using the BosqMap and refined MapInfo tools.

Passwords are set up through:

BosqMap BosqMap Password settings

Lost passwords

If a password is lost a free tool for resetting the passwords is available from

the BosqMap website: http://www.bosqmap.co.uk

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