Smart text in Layout Automation

7. RE: Smart text in Layout Automation

Like

Kalu Ribush

Posted 02-19-2020 18:18

Hi Peter and @Heather Holder

I've made an update to my code which will help you with this.

I've added some code, so that you can add multiple empty text frames to the Layout Designer Window.

If you name a text frame "COL1" (in the properties, not the frame text) then the frame text will be updated with the value for COL1. If you name a frame COL2 .... etc ... up to COL20 (is this enough?).

Note ... this is case sensitive (must be "COL#"). Make sure the empty text frames are big enough to accommodate the column values.

I'll send you a private link to the new version (1.7) to test. If it's successful I'll look at publishing it to the download site.

Regards
Kalu

------------------------------
Kalu Ribush
Senior Mapping Specialist
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Melbourne
------------------------------

Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 03:27
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Heather

Thanks for reaching out. I'll add @Kalu Ribush to this discussion as I might need his insight on this too.

My initial idea was to use the query that Kalu creates for each site that his tool creates a map for. Unfortunately, that query name seems to be variable depending on the table name and maybe even also depending on the column with the unique values.

Kalu, in your code I can see you use this statement to set the name of the query for each site:

strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24)) strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24))

strColumnValueFileNameFix seems to originate from this expression:
aliasColumnValueFileName = strSiteTab+"."+arrayColumnsNamesUnique(intSelectedColumnFileName)

Can you see a problem in changing this to a fixes query name, say q_CurrentSite:
strThisSite = "q_CurrentSite"

If we could modify your tool in this way, we could use, or maybe even include my small utility in your tool, that could read values from whatever column the user wants to, using a SmartText like this:
$mb{ReadValue("q_CurrentSite", "Borough", 1, 0).

I can give this a try if you think it would be possible, Kalu.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 00:24
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Dear Peter,

Similar to what David Cini is trying to undertake, I am trying to produce a land register. This is a register of just over 900 land parcels. i have been tasked with producing an A4 page per land parcel which shows a map of the land parcel and provides attribute data about the lad parcel. I have found Kalu Ribush's SiteMapper tool which is perfect for automating the production of a large number of maps and have got this tool working, it is very simple and easy to use.

Kalu's SiteMapper tool is designed to allow for the return of attribute data for one column. At this stage I have 12 columns (maybe more) of attribute data I would like to display on the page. Kalu did not design his tool to return multiple fields of attribute data (this is not a criticism)

I am trying to find a way to put the attribute data for each land parcel on the layout page and still utilise SiteMapper to automate the production of over 900 maps.

I have investigated the use of David Cini's smart text code
$mb{ColumnInfo(LayerInfo(LayoutItemWinID(CurContext(1), "Map-1", 1),1,1),"COL3",1)}
and it provides the column name from the selection in the layout window called (Map-1) but not the associated attribute data value.

I am not very good with MapBasic language so am wondering of you or someone/anyone can assist to create a smart text code to return attribute data. I'm thinking/hoping that for each attribute required there would be an individual smart code text. Much like David Cini's above it wold require the change of COL3 to COL4 etc to return the correct value but referring back to the layout map (Map-1) so tat when the SiteMapper tool is run it will change the value based on the land parcel being referred to in the layout map (Map-1).

I have also investigated your recommendation to utilise the GetColumnValue tool and use the smart text script
$mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0)
as you have provided above. Where "Selection" is the name of my land register table and "Borough" is the name of the column and a specified row number. However when running the SiteMapper tool this value remains the same - unless I have missed something - which is highly likely

For some reason it won't let me insert a screen shot or attach a file, so hopefully this make sense. Happy to chat if it doesn't my direct line in 07 4761 3604

I suppose I am loving the potential of using smart text codes to generate the attribute data because then you can customise the layout window with smart text codes as opposed to adjusting Kalu's SiteMapper tool to allow for X number of columns. My Land Register project currently has 12 columns of attribute data I wish to show, however I see application for other Council Registers which at this stage have an unknown number of columns.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Heather Holder

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2020 03:20
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi David

Here's a small utility that can be used to read values from a specific record in a specific table.

The tool has a function called MSFuncGetColumnValue which is registered as a public MapBasic function under the name ReadValue. This means that you can use this function from inside MapInfo Pro, for example in a SmartText.

You will need MapInfo Pro 17.0.3 or newer to take advantage of this tool.

Here's the declaration of the function:

Declare Function MSFUNCGetColumnValue(   ByVal sTab As String
                                       , ByVal sCol As String
                                       , ByVal nRowID As Integer
                                       , ByVal bReturnError As Logical ) As String

It takes these parameters:

The table to read the value from
The column to read the value from
The RowID to read the value from
Should it show potential errors or just return an empty string

Here is an example of how to use it. If you want to create a SmartText the can return values from the current selection, you can create one like this: $mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0).

In the example below, you can see how this would look in the layout. Also notice that I have used MapInfo Pro v2019 to create the example below which explains why I can use FALSE instead of 0.

If you exit the edit mode of the text and if you have a current selection, the SmartText will display the value from the borough column. Note that the value will automatically change if you select a different record.

You can, of course, make the SmartText read from a fixed table instead of the current selection.

I have attached the compiled application as well as the source code for this small utility.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

8. RE: Smart text in Layout Automation

Like

Heather Holder

Posted 02-19-2020 22:19

Hi Peter and @Kalu Ribush

Thank you both, it works perfectly!! I'm sure 20 columns will be more than enough - definitely for my purposes at the moment.

Kalu you are amazing I can't thank you enough for modifying your SiteMapper tool to suit my needs - that was above and beyond what I expected. Thank you. I can see this being a regular tool that I will utilise and that other people in my Council will soon want to use for all sorts of projects.

Regards
Heather

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine
------------------------------

Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 18:18
From: Kalu Ribush
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Peter and @Heather Holder

I've made an update to my code which will help you with this.

I've added some code, so that you can add multiple empty text frames to the Layout Designer Window.

If you name a text frame "COL1" (in the properties, not the frame text) then the frame text will be updated with the value for COL1. If you name a frame COL2 .... etc ... up to COL20 (is this enough?).

Note ... this is case sensitive (must be "COL#"). Make sure the empty text frames are big enough to accommodate the column values.

I'll send you a private link to the new version (1.7) to test. If it's successful I'll look at publishing it to the download site.

Regards
Kalu

------------------------------
Kalu Ribush
Senior Mapping Specialist
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Melbourne
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 03:27
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Heather

Thanks for reaching out. I'll add @Kalu Ribush to this discussion as I might need his insight on this too.

My initial idea was to use the query that Kalu creates for each site that his tool creates a map for. Unfortunately, that query name seems to be variable depending on the table name and maybe even also depending on the column with the unique values.

Kalu, in your code I can see you use this statement to set the name of the query for each site:

strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24)) strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24))

strColumnValueFileNameFix seems to originate from this expression:
aliasColumnValueFileName = strSiteTab+"."+arrayColumnsNamesUnique(intSelectedColumnFileName)

Can you see a problem in changing this to a fixes query name, say q_CurrentSite:
strThisSite = "q_CurrentSite"

If we could modify your tool in this way, we could use, or maybe even include my small utility in your tool, that could read values from whatever column the user wants to, using a SmartText like this:
$mb{ReadValue("q_CurrentSite", "Borough", 1, 0).

I can give this a try if you think it would be possible, Kalu.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 00:24
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Dear Peter,

Similar to what David Cini is trying to undertake, I am trying to produce a land register. This is a register of just over 900 land parcels. i have been tasked with producing an A4 page per land parcel which shows a map of the land parcel and provides attribute data about the lad parcel. I have found Kalu Ribush's SiteMapper tool which is perfect for automating the production of a large number of maps and have got this tool working, it is very simple and easy to use.

Kalu's SiteMapper tool is designed to allow for the return of attribute data for one column. At this stage I have 12 columns (maybe more) of attribute data I would like to display on the page. Kalu did not design his tool to return multiple fields of attribute data (this is not a criticism)

I am trying to find a way to put the attribute data for each land parcel on the layout page and still utilise SiteMapper to automate the production of over 900 maps.

I have investigated the use of David Cini's smart text code
$mb{ColumnInfo(LayerInfo(LayoutItemWinID(CurContext(1), "Map-1", 1),1,1),"COL3",1)}
and it provides the column name from the selection in the layout window called (Map-1) but not the associated attribute data value.

I am not very good with MapBasic language so am wondering of you or someone/anyone can assist to create a smart text code to return attribute data. I'm thinking/hoping that for each attribute required there would be an individual smart code text. Much like David Cini's above it wold require the change of COL3 to COL4 etc to return the correct value but referring back to the layout map (Map-1) so tat when the SiteMapper tool is run it will change the value based on the land parcel being referred to in the layout map (Map-1).

I have also investigated your recommendation to utilise the GetColumnValue tool and use the smart text script
$mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0)
as you have provided above. Where "Selection" is the name of my land register table and "Borough" is the name of the column and a specified row number. However when running the SiteMapper tool this value remains the same - unless I have missed something - which is highly likely

For some reason it won't let me insert a screen shot or attach a file, so hopefully this make sense. Happy to chat if it doesn't my direct line in 07 4761 3604

I suppose I am loving the potential of using smart text codes to generate the attribute data because then you can customise the layout window with smart text codes as opposed to adjusting Kalu's SiteMapper tool to allow for X number of columns. My Land Register project currently has 12 columns of attribute data I wish to show, however I see application for other Council Registers which at this stage have an unknown number of columns.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Heather Holder

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2020 03:20
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi David

Here's a small utility that can be used to read values from a specific record in a specific table.

The tool has a function called MSFuncGetColumnValue which is registered as a public MapBasic function under the name ReadValue. This means that you can use this function from inside MapInfo Pro, for example in a SmartText.

You will need MapInfo Pro 17.0.3 or newer to take advantage of this tool.

Here's the declaration of the function:

Declare Function MSFUNCGetColumnValue(   ByVal sTab As String
                                       , ByVal sCol As String
                                       , ByVal nRowID As Integer
                                       , ByVal bReturnError As Logical ) As String

It takes these parameters:

The table to read the value from
The column to read the value from
The RowID to read the value from
Should it show potential errors or just return an empty string

Here is an example of how to use it. If you want to create a SmartText the can return values from the current selection, you can create one like this: $mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0).

In the example below, you can see how this would look in the layout. Also notice that I have used MapInfo Pro v2019 to create the example below which explains why I can use FALSE instead of 0.

If you exit the edit mode of the text and if you have a current selection, the SmartText will display the value from the borough column. Note that the value will automatically change if you select a different record.

You can, of course, make the SmartText read from a fixed table instead of the current selection.

I have attached the compiled application as well as the source code for this small utility.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

9. RE: Smart text in Layout Automation

Like

Employee

Peter Møller

Posted 02-20-2020 02:17

You rock, Kalu!
Thanks for helping out here!

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data
------------------------------

Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 22:18
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Peter and @Kalu Ribush

Thank you both, it works perfectly!! I'm sure 20 columns will be more than enough - definitely for my purposes at the moment.

Kalu you are amazing I can't thank you enough for modifying your SiteMapper tool to suit my needs - that was above and beyond what I expected. Thank you. I can see this being a regular tool that I will utilise and that other people in my Council will soon want to use for all sorts of projects.

Regards
Heather

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 18:18
From: Kalu Ribush
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Peter and @Heather Holder

I've made an update to my code which will help you with this.

I've added some code, so that you can add multiple empty text frames to the Layout Designer Window.

If you name a text frame "COL1" (in the properties, not the frame text) then the frame text will be updated with the value for COL1. If you name a frame COL2 .... etc ... up to COL20 (is this enough?).

Note ... this is case sensitive (must be "COL#"). Make sure the empty text frames are big enough to accommodate the column values.

I'll send you a private link to the new version (1.7) to test. If it's successful I'll look at publishing it to the download site.

Regards
Kalu

------------------------------
Kalu Ribush
Senior Mapping Specialist
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Melbourne

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 03:27
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Heather

Thanks for reaching out. I'll add @Kalu Ribush to this discussion as I might need his insight on this too.

My initial idea was to use the query that Kalu creates for each site that his tool creates a map for. Unfortunately, that query name seems to be variable depending on the table name and maybe even also depending on the column with the unique values.

Kalu, in your code I can see you use this statement to set the name of the query for each site:

strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24)) strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24))

strColumnValueFileNameFix seems to originate from this expression:
aliasColumnValueFileName = strSiteTab+"."+arrayColumnsNamesUnique(intSelectedColumnFileName)

Can you see a problem in changing this to a fixes query name, say q_CurrentSite:
strThisSite = "q_CurrentSite"

If we could modify your tool in this way, we could use, or maybe even include my small utility in your tool, that could read values from whatever column the user wants to, using a SmartText like this:
$mb{ReadValue("q_CurrentSite", "Borough", 1, 0).

I can give this a try if you think it would be possible, Kalu.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 00:24
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Dear Peter,

Similar to what David Cini is trying to undertake, I am trying to produce a land register. This is a register of just over 900 land parcels. i have been tasked with producing an A4 page per land parcel which shows a map of the land parcel and provides attribute data about the lad parcel. I have found Kalu Ribush's SiteMapper tool which is perfect for automating the production of a large number of maps and have got this tool working, it is very simple and easy to use.

Kalu's SiteMapper tool is designed to allow for the return of attribute data for one column. At this stage I have 12 columns (maybe more) of attribute data I would like to display on the page. Kalu did not design his tool to return multiple fields of attribute data (this is not a criticism)

I am trying to find a way to put the attribute data for each land parcel on the layout page and still utilise SiteMapper to automate the production of over 900 maps.

I have investigated the use of David Cini's smart text code
$mb{ColumnInfo(LayerInfo(LayoutItemWinID(CurContext(1), "Map-1", 1),1,1),"COL3",1)}
and it provides the column name from the selection in the layout window called (Map-1) but not the associated attribute data value.

I am not very good with MapBasic language so am wondering of you or someone/anyone can assist to create a smart text code to return attribute data. I'm thinking/hoping that for each attribute required there would be an individual smart code text. Much like David Cini's above it wold require the change of COL3 to COL4 etc to return the correct value but referring back to the layout map (Map-1) so tat when the SiteMapper tool is run it will change the value based on the land parcel being referred to in the layout map (Map-1).

I have also investigated your recommendation to utilise the GetColumnValue tool and use the smart text script
$mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0)
as you have provided above. Where "Selection" is the name of my land register table and "Borough" is the name of the column and a specified row number. However when running the SiteMapper tool this value remains the same - unless I have missed something - which is highly likely

For some reason it won't let me insert a screen shot or attach a file, so hopefully this make sense. Happy to chat if it doesn't my direct line in 07 4761 3604

I suppose I am loving the potential of using smart text codes to generate the attribute data because then you can customise the layout window with smart text codes as opposed to adjusting Kalu's SiteMapper tool to allow for X number of columns. My Land Register project currently has 12 columns of attribute data I wish to show, however I see application for other Council Registers which at this stage have an unknown number of columns.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Heather Holder

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2020 03:20
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi David

Here's a small utility that can be used to read values from a specific record in a specific table.

The tool has a function called MSFuncGetColumnValue which is registered as a public MapBasic function under the name ReadValue. This means that you can use this function from inside MapInfo Pro, for example in a SmartText.

You will need MapInfo Pro 17.0.3 or newer to take advantage of this tool.

Here's the declaration of the function:

Declare Function MSFUNCGetColumnValue(   ByVal sTab As String
                                       , ByVal sCol As String
                                       , ByVal nRowID As Integer
                                       , ByVal bReturnError As Logical ) As String

It takes these parameters:

The table to read the value from
The column to read the value from
The RowID to read the value from
Should it show potential errors or just return an empty string

Here is an example of how to use it. If you want to create a SmartText the can return values from the current selection, you can create one like this: $mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0).

In the example below, you can see how this would look in the layout. Also notice that I have used MapInfo Pro v2019 to create the example below which explains why I can use FALSE instead of 0.

If you exit the edit mode of the text and if you have a current selection, the SmartText will display the value from the borough column. Note that the value will automatically change if you select a different record.

You can, of course, make the SmartText read from a fixed table instead of the current selection.

I have attached the compiled application as well as the source code for this small utility.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

10. RE: Smart text in Layout Automation

Like

David Cini

Posted 02-20-2020 18:12

Hey Kalu

I have been talking with Heather about her requirements with Site Mapper and would really appreciate if you can distribute SiteMapper Ver1.7 with the new multiple column text frames to the download site. Heather has been raving about the success of the add-in for her requirements and I think it is closer to what I will require to register our Infrastructure.

One issue I did have with Site Mapper was the publishing of pdfs to desktop after the processing of the frames. As I have a possible 1,000+ maps to produce can you offer some guidance.

Thanks again and hope to hear form you soon.

------------------------------
David Cini
GIS Analyst
Cairns Regional Council
Cairns
------------------------------

Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 18:18
From: Kalu Ribush
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Peter and @Heather Holder

I've made an update to my code which will help you with this.

I've added some code, so that you can add multiple empty text frames to the Layout Designer Window.

If you name a text frame "COL1" (in the properties, not the frame text) then the frame text will be updated with the value for COL1. If you name a frame COL2 .... etc ... up to COL20 (is this enough?).

Note ... this is case sensitive (must be "COL#"). Make sure the empty text frames are big enough to accommodate the column values.

I'll send you a private link to the new version (1.7) to test. If it's successful I'll look at publishing it to the download site.

Regards
Kalu

------------------------------
Kalu Ribush
Senior Mapping Specialist
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Melbourne
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 03:27
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Heather

Thanks for reaching out. I'll add @Kalu Ribush to this discussion as I might need his insight on this too.

My initial idea was to use the query that Kalu creates for each site that his tool creates a map for. Unfortunately, that query name seems to be variable depending on the table name and maybe even also depending on the column with the unique values.

Kalu, in your code I can see you use this statement to set the name of the query for each site:

strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24)) strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24))

strColumnValueFileNameFix seems to originate from this expression:
aliasColumnValueFileName = strSiteTab+"."+arrayColumnsNamesUnique(intSelectedColumnFileName)

Can you see a problem in changing this to a fixes query name, say q_CurrentSite:
strThisSite = "q_CurrentSite"

If we could modify your tool in this way, we could use, or maybe even include my small utility in your tool, that could read values from whatever column the user wants to, using a SmartText like this:
$mb{ReadValue("q_CurrentSite", "Borough", 1, 0).

I can give this a try if you think it would be possible, Kalu.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 00:24
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Dear Peter,

Similar to what David Cini is trying to undertake, I am trying to produce a land register. This is a register of just over 900 land parcels. i have been tasked with producing an A4 page per land parcel which shows a map of the land parcel and provides attribute data about the lad parcel. I have found Kalu Ribush's SiteMapper tool which is perfect for automating the production of a large number of maps and have got this tool working, it is very simple and easy to use.

Kalu's SiteMapper tool is designed to allow for the return of attribute data for one column. At this stage I have 12 columns (maybe more) of attribute data I would like to display on the page. Kalu did not design his tool to return multiple fields of attribute data (this is not a criticism)

I am trying to find a way to put the attribute data for each land parcel on the layout page and still utilise SiteMapper to automate the production of over 900 maps.

I have investigated the use of David Cini's smart text code
$mb{ColumnInfo(LayerInfo(LayoutItemWinID(CurContext(1), "Map-1", 1),1,1),"COL3",1)}
and it provides the column name from the selection in the layout window called (Map-1) but not the associated attribute data value.

I am not very good with MapBasic language so am wondering of you or someone/anyone can assist to create a smart text code to return attribute data. I'm thinking/hoping that for each attribute required there would be an individual smart code text. Much like David Cini's above it wold require the change of COL3 to COL4 etc to return the correct value but referring back to the layout map (Map-1) so tat when the SiteMapper tool is run it will change the value based on the land parcel being referred to in the layout map (Map-1).

I have also investigated your recommendation to utilise the GetColumnValue tool and use the smart text script
$mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0)
as you have provided above. Where "Selection" is the name of my land register table and "Borough" is the name of the column and a specified row number. However when running the SiteMapper tool this value remains the same - unless I have missed something - which is highly likely

For some reason it won't let me insert a screen shot or attach a file, so hopefully this make sense. Happy to chat if it doesn't my direct line in 07 4761 3604

I suppose I am loving the potential of using smart text codes to generate the attribute data because then you can customise the layout window with smart text codes as opposed to adjusting Kalu's SiteMapper tool to allow for X number of columns. My Land Register project currently has 12 columns of attribute data I wish to show, however I see application for other Council Registers which at this stage have an unknown number of columns.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Heather Holder

------------------------------
Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2020 03:20
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi David

Here's a small utility that can be used to read values from a specific record in a specific table.

The tool has a function called MSFuncGetColumnValue which is registered as a public MapBasic function under the name ReadValue. This means that you can use this function from inside MapInfo Pro, for example in a SmartText.

You will need MapInfo Pro 17.0.3 or newer to take advantage of this tool.

Here's the declaration of the function:

Declare Function MSFUNCGetColumnValue(   ByVal sTab As String
                                       , ByVal sCol As String
                                       , ByVal nRowID As Integer
                                       , ByVal bReturnError As Logical ) As String

It takes these parameters:

The table to read the value from
The column to read the value from
The RowID to read the value from
Should it show potential errors or just return an empty string

Here is an example of how to use it. If you want to create a SmartText the can return values from the current selection, you can create one like this: $mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0).

In the example below, you can see how this would look in the layout. Also notice that I have used MapInfo Pro v2019 to create the example below which explains why I can use FALSE instead of 0.

If you exit the edit mode of the text and if you have a current selection, the SmartText will display the value from the borough column. Note that the value will automatically change if you select a different record.

You can, of course, make the SmartText read from a fixed table instead of the current selection.

I have attached the compiled application as well as the source code for this small utility.

------------------------------
Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

11. RE: Smart text in Layout Automation

Like

Employee

Peter Møller

Posted 02-22-2022 02:04

Hi

Just wanted to give you all a heads-up that we did publish several new versions of SiteMapper in the last two years.

Here's a list of the improvements:

v1.7.0, 2020, April: The SiteMapper tool has been updated with new functionality to include additional columns on the layout window. The User Guide has now also been updated.
v1.9.0, 2021, September: The Microsoft PDF driver has been added and some further enhancement has been made to the layout. The user guide has been updated.
v1.9.1, 2021, September: Bug fixes
v2.1.3, 2021, November: Support for two maps in layouts, site ID values don't have to be unique, SiteMapper control on Home and Layout tab, and much more
v2.2.0, 2021, December: Support for validating that Site ID column only contains unique values. Additional verification for the configuration dialog and a couple of bug fixes

You can find and download the SiteMapper tool from the MapInfo Marketplace from within MapInfo Pro. If you already have a version of Site Mapper, you should have seen notifications of the new versions too.

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Peter Horsbøll Møller
Principal Presales Consultant | Distinguished Engineer
Precisely | Trust in Data
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Original Message

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2020 18:11
From: David Cini
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hey Kalu

I have been talking with Heather about her requirements with Site Mapper and would really appreciate if you can distribute SiteMapper Ver1.7 with the new multiple column text frames to the download site. Heather has been raving about the success of the add-in for her requirements and I think it is closer to what I will require to register our Infrastructure.

One issue I did have with Site Mapper was the publishing of pdfs to desktop after the processing of the frames. As I have a possible 1,000+ maps to produce can you offer some guidance.

Thanks again and hope to hear form you soon.

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David Cini
GIS Analyst
Cairns Regional Council
Cairns
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 18:18
From: Kalu Ribush
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Peter and @Heather Holder

I've made an update to my code which will help you with this.

I've added some code, so that you can add multiple empty text frames to the Layout Designer Window.

If you name a text frame "COL1" (in the properties, not the frame text) then the frame text will be updated with the value for COL1. If you name a frame COL2 .... etc ... up to COL20 (is this enough?).

Note ... this is case sensitive (must be "COL#"). Make sure the empty text frames are big enough to accommodate the column values.

I'll send you a private link to the new version (1.7) to test. If it's successful I'll look at publishing it to the download site.

Regards
Kalu

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Kalu Ribush
Senior Mapping Specialist
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Melbourne

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 03:27
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi Heather

Thanks for reaching out. I'll add @Kalu Ribush to this discussion as I might need his insight on this too.

My initial idea was to use the query that Kalu creates for each site that his tool creates a map for. Unfortunately, that query name seems to be variable depending on the table name and maybe even also depending on the column with the unique values.

Kalu, in your code I can see you use this statement to set the name of the query for each site:

strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24)) strThisSite = "q_"+str$(left$(strColumnValueFileNameFix,24))

strColumnValueFileNameFix seems to originate from this expression:
aliasColumnValueFileName = strSiteTab+"."+arrayColumnsNamesUnique(intSelectedColumnFileName)

Can you see a problem in changing this to a fixes query name, say q_CurrentSite:
strThisSite = "q_CurrentSite"

If we could modify your tool in this way, we could use, or maybe even include my small utility in your tool, that could read values from whatever column the user wants to, using a SmartText like this:
$mb{ReadValue("q_CurrentSite", "Borough", 1, 0).

I can give this a try if you think it would be possible, Kalu.

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Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2020 00:24
From: Heather Holder
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Dear Peter,

Similar to what David Cini is trying to undertake, I am trying to produce a land register. This is a register of just over 900 land parcels. i have been tasked with producing an A4 page per land parcel which shows a map of the land parcel and provides attribute data about the lad parcel. I have found Kalu Ribush's SiteMapper tool which is perfect for automating the production of a large number of maps and have got this tool working, it is very simple and easy to use.

Kalu's SiteMapper tool is designed to allow for the return of attribute data for one column. At this stage I have 12 columns (maybe more) of attribute data I would like to display on the page. Kalu did not design his tool to return multiple fields of attribute data (this is not a criticism)

I am trying to find a way to put the attribute data for each land parcel on the layout page and still utilise SiteMapper to automate the production of over 900 maps.

I have investigated the use of David Cini's smart text code
$mb{ColumnInfo(LayerInfo(LayoutItemWinID(CurContext(1), "Map-1", 1),1,1),"COL3",1)}
and it provides the column name from the selection in the layout window called (Map-1) but not the associated attribute data value.

I am not very good with MapBasic language so am wondering of you or someone/anyone can assist to create a smart text code to return attribute data. I'm thinking/hoping that for each attribute required there would be an individual smart code text. Much like David Cini's above it wold require the change of COL3 to COL4 etc to return the correct value but referring back to the layout map (Map-1) so tat when the SiteMapper tool is run it will change the value based on the land parcel being referred to in the layout map (Map-1).

I have also investigated your recommendation to utilise the GetColumnValue tool and use the smart text script
$mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0)
as you have provided above. Where "Selection" is the name of my land register table and "Borough" is the name of the column and a specified row number. However when running the SiteMapper tool this value remains the same - unless I have missed something - which is highly likely

For some reason it won't let me insert a screen shot or attach a file, so hopefully this make sense. Happy to chat if it doesn't my direct line in 07 4761 3604

I suppose I am loving the potential of using smart text codes to generate the attribute data because then you can customise the layout window with smart text codes as opposed to adjusting Kalu's SiteMapper tool to allow for X number of columns. My Land Register project currently has 12 columns of attribute data I wish to show, however I see application for other Council Registers which at this stage have an unknown number of columns.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

Heather Holder

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Heather Holder
GIS Technical Assistant
Whitsunday Regional Council
Proserpine

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2020 03:20
From: Peter Horsbøll Møller
Subject: Smart text in Layout Automation

Hi David

Here's a small utility that can be used to read values from a specific record in a specific table.

The tool has a function called MSFuncGetColumnValue which is registered as a public MapBasic function under the name ReadValue. This means that you can use this function from inside MapInfo Pro, for example in a SmartText.

You will need MapInfo Pro 17.0.3 or newer to take advantage of this tool.

Here's the declaration of the function:

Declare Function MSFUNCGetColumnValue(   ByVal sTab As String
                                       , ByVal sCol As String
                                       , ByVal nRowID As Integer
                                       , ByVal bReturnError As Logical ) As String

It takes these parameters:

The table to read the value from
The column to read the value from
The RowID to read the value from
Should it show potential errors or just return an empty string

Here is an example of how to use it. If you want to create a SmartText the can return values from the current selection, you can create one like this: $mb{ReadValue("Selection", "Borough", 1, 0).

In the example below, you can see how this would look in the layout. Also notice that I have used MapInfo Pro v2019 to create the example below which explains why I can use FALSE instead of 0.

If you exit the edit mode of the text and if you have a current selection, the SmartText will display the value from the borough column. Note that the value will automatically change if you select a different record.

You can, of course, make the SmartText read from a fixed table instead of the current selection.

I have attached the compiled application as well as the source code for this small utility.

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Peter Horsbøll Møller
Distinguished Engineer
Pitney Bowes Software & Data

MapInfo Pro