MapInfo Pro

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

Hey Nick

Try reading this #MapInfoMonday article and let me know if the second option is working for you.

It uses a standard dialog in MapInfo Pro and creates Tab files for the selected raster files.

If needed you will be prompted once for the projection details.

Peter

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

Thank you Peter,

Your second method achieved what I want.

I am still curious though, why is the "Open Table" button able to read the coordinates embedded in the COG GeoTiff and the "Register Table" MapBasic command not able to read the embedded coordinates?

Hey Nick

Try reading this #MapInfoMonday article and let me know if the second option is working for you.

It uses a standard dialog in MapInfo Pro and creates Tab files for the selected raster files.

If needed you will be prompted once for the projection details.

Peter

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

You raise a fair point, Nick.

I thught the control point part of the statement was required but it's not:

Register Table source_file { 	Type GRID | Type RASTER		[ ControlPoints ( MapX1, MapY1 ) ( RasterX1, RasterY1 ), 			( MapX2, MapY2 ) ( RasterX2, RasterY2 ),			( MapX3, MapY3 ) ( RasterX3, RasterY3 )			[ , ... ] ]		[ CoordSys... ] 		[ Charset char_set ] |

I can see the descripton says:

ControlPoints is optional, but can be specified if the type is Grid or Raster. If the ControlPoints keyword is specified, it must be followed by at least 3 pairs of Map and Raster coordinates which are used to georegister an image. If the ControlPoints are specified, they will override and replace any control points associated with the image or an associated World file.

Maybe we need to make the statement able to read the control points from the file instead and not just a World file or similar?

Thank you Peter,

Your second method achieved what I want.

I am still curious though, why is the "Open Table" button able to read the coordinates embedded in the COG GeoTiff and the "Register Table" MapBasic command not able to read the embedded coordinates?

Hey Nick

Try reading this #MapInfoMonday article and let me know if the second option is working for you.

It uses a standard dialog in MapInfo Pro and creates Tab files for the selected raster files.

If needed you will be prompted once for the projection details.

Peter

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

Yes, I experimented by using a Register Table command in the MapBasic tool Window.

I specified a CoordSys but deliberately did not specify control points, to allow MapInfo to read the control points embedded in the image.

But it failed. It created a TAB file, but with (0,0) for all control points.

The Open Table button succeeds, so MapInfo Pro itself has the ability to read the control points embedded in the image.

It would be good if the Register Table command could also do that.

You raise a fair point, Nick.

I thught the control point part of the statement was required but it's not:

Register Table source_file { 	Type GRID | Type RASTER		[ ControlPoints ( MapX1, MapY1 ) ( RasterX1, RasterY1 ), 			( MapX2, MapY2 ) ( RasterX2, RasterY2 ),			( MapX3, MapY3 ) ( RasterX3, RasterY3 )			[ , ... ] ]		[ CoordSys... ] 		[ Charset char_set ] |

I can see the descripton says:

ControlPoints is optional, but can be specified if the type is Grid or Raster. If the ControlPoints keyword is specified, it must be followed by at least 3 pairs of Map and Raster coordinates which are used to georegister an image. If the ControlPoints are specified, they will override and replace any control points associated with the image or an associated World file.

Maybe we need to make the statement able to read the control points from the file instead and not just a World file or similar?

Thank you Peter,

Your second method achieved what I want.

I am still curious though, why is the "Open Table" button able to read the coordinates embedded in the COG GeoTiff and the "Register Table" MapBasic command not able to read the embedded coordinates?

Hey Nick

Try reading this #MapInfoMonday article and let me know if the second option is working for you.

It uses a standard dialog in MapInfo Pro and creates Tab files for the selected raster files.

If needed you will be prompted once for the projection details.

Peter

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

Can you start by raisning this issue with our support team?

And if possible please include one of the your COG GeoTIFF files, too.

In that way, we can check if it's a glitch that easy to fix first.

Thanks

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2026 02:30
From: Nick Lawrence
Subject: How to Register a COG GeoTiff with a mapbasic command

Yes, I experimented by using a Register Table command in the MapBasic tool Window.

I specified a CoordSys but deliberately did not specify control points, to allow MapInfo to read the control points embedded in the image.

But it failed. It created a TAB file, but with (0,0) for all control points.

The Open Table button succeeds, so MapInfo Pro itself has the ability to read the control points embedded in the image.

It would be good if the Register Table command could also do that.

------------------------------
Nick Lawrence
Senior Spatial Science Officer
Department of Transport and Main Roads (QLD)
Brisbane QLD

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2026 09:00
From: Peter Møller
Subject: How to Register a COG GeoTiff with a mapbasic command

You raise a fair point, Nick.

I thught the control point part of the statement was required but it's not:

Register Table source_file { 	Type GRID | Type RASTER		[ ControlPoints ( MapX1, MapY1 ) ( RasterX1, RasterY1 ), 			( MapX2, MapY2 ) ( RasterX2, RasterY2 ),			( MapX3, MapY3 ) ( RasterX3, RasterY3 )			[ , ... ] ]		[ CoordSys... ] 		[ Charset char_set ] |

I can see the descripton says:

ControlPoints is optional, but can be specified if the type is Grid or Raster. If the ControlPoints keyword is specified, it must be followed by at least 3 pairs of Map and Raster coordinates which are used to georegister an image. If the ControlPoints are specified, they will override and replace any control points associated with the image or an associated World file.

Maybe we need to make the statement able to read the control points from the file instead and not just a World file or similar?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2026 20:12
From: Nick Lawrence
Subject: How to Register a COG GeoTiff with a mapbasic command

Thank you Peter,

Your second method achieved what I want.

I am still curious though, why is the "Open Table" button able to read the coordinates embedded in the COG GeoTiff and the "Register Table" MapBasic command not able to read the embedded coordinates?

------------------------------
Nick Lawrence
Senior Spatial Science Officer
Department of Transport and Main Roads (QLD)
Brisbane QLD

Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2026 04:34
From: Peter Møller
Subject: How to Register a COG GeoTiff with a mapbasic command

Hey Nick

Try reading this #MapInfoMonday article and let me know if the second option is working for you.

It uses a standard dialog in MapInfo Pro and creates Tab files for the selected raster files.

If needed you will be prompted once for the projection details.

Peter

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2026 18:03
From: Nick Lawrence
Subject: How to Register a COG GeoTiff with a mapbasic command

Hello all,

I have a large number of COG GeoTiff files stored on my file server.

I want to write a mapbasic script that loops through all geotiffs in one folder and builds tab files for them, so that other MapInfo users can open them.

I only have the GeoTiff, there is no associated TFW file

What is the mapbasic command to Register a COG GeoTiff that reads the coordinate information from the header of the GeoTiff?

I succeed in manually opening the GeoTiff with the Open Table command. I am prompted to choose a Coordinate System, but MapInfo then reads the relevant coordinate information itself, and builds the .tab file successfully.

But when I use the mapbasic command Register Table, it does not read the coordinate information and thus builds a bad .tab file. In this bad .tab file all the real-world coordinates are (0,0)

What mapbasic command can I use to duplicate the "Open Table" functionality?

------------------------------
Nick Lawrence
Senior Spatial Science Officer
Department of Transport and Main Roads (QLD)
Brisbane QLD
------------------------------