MapInfo Pro

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

Update

Just had a notification from w3w: As of 1st August 2024, this function will not be part of the free API usage.

If you would like to continue to make use of this feature, you can upgrade to one of the w3w paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month).

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

John,

Can we display the grid in mapinfo?

Can W3W be used in Spectrum stack?

Update

Just had a notification from w3w: As of 1st August 2024, this function will not be part of the free API usage.

If you would like to continue to make use of this feature, you can upgrade to one of the w3w paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month).

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

Hi Jason

Sorry I missed your post in the summer hols...

W3W do not share the grid without money changing hands!

Regards

John,

Can we display the grid in mapinfo?

Can W3W be used in Spectrum stack?

Update

Just had a notification from w3w: As of 1st August 2024, this function will not be part of the free API usage.

If you would like to continue to make use of this feature, you can upgrade to one of the w3w paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month).

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

Update on the What3Words tool:

As of 1st August 2024, the what3words Free API plan no longer offers the ability to make convert-to-coordinate requests (the function that enables you to search what3words addresses and convert them to their equivalent GPS coordinates).

I have also found that my >Search for Address does not work - I believe as part of this upgrade in API usage terms. The API terms may be different for personal use on your mobile phone...

In the UK, if you would like to continue using this feature, you can upgrade to one of their paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month). Just go to the https://what3words.com/  to sign-up for a plan - your API key will not change as part of this update.

I wonder if that will affect usage much??

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2024 06:19
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Hi Jason

Sorry I missed your post in the summer hols...

W3W do not share the grid without money changing hands!

Regards

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 06-07-2024 01:00
From: Jason Hemingway
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

John,

Can we display the grid in mapinfo?

Can W3W be used in Spectrum stack?

------------------------------
Jason Hemingway
Coordinator Spatial & Asset Services
Information Services
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Australia

Original Message:
Sent: 05-30-2024 06:15
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Update

Just had a notification from w3w: As of 1st August 2024, this function will not be part of the free API usage.

If you would like to continue to make use of this feature, you can upgrade to one of the w3w paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month).

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2024 02:03
From: Peter Møller
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

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

Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2024 03:08
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------

They're also removing the convert to what3words feature on 25th November (i.e click map to get w3w or update table from centroids function), so the free API will have no functionality other than AutoSuggest which is for web forms.

I suspect it will reduce take-up as adding a cost barrier (even an insignificant one) means you can't even test whether it's worth using. However, I'm still not convinced we should be encouraging a proprietary reference system. If we're to have a user friendly geo 'hashtag' it should be one adopted by the OGC.

------------------------------
Tom Parker
GIS Officer
Cambridgeshire County Council
Huntingdon

Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2024 06:28
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Update on the What3Words tool:

As of 1st August 2024, the what3words Free API plan no longer offers the ability to make convert-to-coordinate requests (the function that enables you to search what3words addresses and convert them to their equivalent GPS coordinates).

I have also found that my >Search for Address does not work - I believe as part of this upgrade in API usage terms. The API terms may be different for personal use on your mobile phone...

In the UK, if you would like to continue using this feature, you can upgrade to one of their paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month). Just go to the https://what3words.com/  to sign-up for a plan - your API key will not change as part of this update.

I wonder if that will affect usage much??

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2024 06:19
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Hi Jason

Sorry I missed your post in the summer hols...

W3W do not share the grid without money changing hands!

Regards

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 06-07-2024 01:00
From: Jason Hemingway
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

John,

Can we display the grid in mapinfo?

Can W3W be used in Spectrum stack?

------------------------------
Jason Hemingway
Coordinator Spatial & Asset Services
Information Services
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Australia

Original Message:
Sent: 05-30-2024 06:15
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Update

Just had a notification from w3w: As of 1st August 2024, this function will not be part of the free API usage.

If you would like to continue to make use of this feature, you can upgrade to one of the w3w paid API plans (starting from £7.99/month).

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2024 02:03
From: Peter Møller
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

Hi John

This is a pretty cool use case for the what3words add-in.

I think you can skip the step where you save your table into Lat/Long WGS84. You should be able to just set the session coordsys to this instead:

Set CoordSys Earth Projection 1, 104

Update Addresses
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Thanks for sharing, John

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

Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2024 03:08
From: John Ievers
Subject: MapInfo Monday: What3words feature to update a table with the W3W Address

I've been supporting a number of clients using the What3Words tool in MapInfo lately and @Peter Møller asked me to submit this week's article.

A previous MapInfo Monday has covered the installation and set-up of the What3words tool for MapInfo. The tool is available to install via the MapInfo MarketPlace directly within MapInfo Pro (just make sure you have registered for the MapInfo Services under the Pro tab).

The tool allows you to click anywhere on the map and retrieve the w3w reference and also to enter a w3w address to locate it on your map. The Help page is here:

https://developer.what3words.com/tutorial/installing-the-mapinfo-plugin#using-the-extension

The app for mobile phones is very popular and covers the whole world and many languages. We have received many calls about What3words and the app, with many people asking if the 3m grid is freely available – the answer to that is a definite "No".

Indeed, in the early days of using What3Words the usage was free. Now there are business plans to suit different amounts of usage, which is determined when you request an API Key.

However, there is a useful feature where you can update MapInfo tables with the w3w address. If you scroll down the Help page, the good folk at w3w provide the following SQL query:

Select WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj)) From flpoints Into Selection

We recently had a client wanting to provide a w3w address to go with all of their sites. So for them, they wanted to update a new column in their table.
The SQL for that is:

Update <Tablename>
  Set W3W = WGS84ToWhat3words(CentroidX(obj), CentroidY(obj))

Where W3W is a string column and the coordsys of your table must be WGS84.

I saved a copy of the table in the WGS84 projection [EPSG: 4326]

9,900 sites updated with a W3W address in an instant.

I hope you find this useful.

------------------------------
John Ievers
CDR Group Limited
Hope Valley, United Kingdom
------------------------------