MapInfo Pro

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

I haven't tested this yet but could it be a question of where the hotlink settings are saved?

Typically, when you specify the hotlink setting you do this for a layer in a map and this gets saved with your workspace.

However, you can save these settings with the table - notice the Save option to table metadata checkbox at the bottom of the Hotlink Options dialog.

With these options saved to the table metadata, the settings aren't only related to a layer, but to a table.

Does that make a difference?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 08:49
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Hi,

Here's a simple example of what I was trying to explain (I can't upload):

-------------------------

!table
!version 300
!charset WindowsLatin1

Definition Table
  Type NATIVE Charset "WindowsLatin1"
  Fields 2
    Name Char (100) ;
    URL Char (100) ;
begin_metadata
"\IsReadOnly" = "FALSE"
"\MapInfo" = ""
"\MapInfo\TableID" = "e00b73e3-342d-486a-b198-2966bacafeac"
"\ActiveObject" = ""
"\ActiveObject\Expr" = "URL"
"\ActiveObject\Mode" = "HOTLINK_MODE_OBJ"
"\ActiveObject\Relative" = "FALSE"
"\ActiveObject\Enabled" = "TRUE"
"\ActiveObject\Alias" = ""
end_metadata

-------------------------

Data

Name, URL

Website, https://www.google.com

File, file://\\path\to\a\file

-------------------------

On v2023 with the latest patch if the table is named Test the table works for me and if named Test_Links it doesn't!

Thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 01:45
From: Peter Møller
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I haven't tested this yet but could it be a question of where the hotlink settings are saved?

Typically, when you specify the hotlink setting you do this for a layer in a map and this gets saved with your workspace.

However, you can save these settings with the table - notice the Save option to table metadata checkbox at the bottom of the Hotlink Options dialog.

With these options saved to the table metadata, the settings aren't only related to a layer, but to a table.

Does that make a difference?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 08:49
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Hi Tom

You should be able to upload the files if you zip them and attach the zip file. Otherwise, try sending it to me: peter.moller@precisely.com.

I tried configuring a table with hotlinks that work with HTTP and HTTPS in the link.

The link does however not work in the browser.

Once I check the option to save the settings to the table metadata, the link also appears in the browser window - only in browser windows opened after saving the settings to the table.

Hi,

Here's a simple example of what I was trying to explain (I can't upload):

-------------------------

!table
!version 300
!charset WindowsLatin1

Definition Table
  Type NATIVE Charset "WindowsLatin1"
  Fields 2
    Name Char (100) ;
    URL Char (100) ;
begin_metadata
"\IsReadOnly" = "FALSE"
"\MapInfo" = ""
"\MapInfo\TableID" = "e00b73e3-342d-486a-b198-2966bacafeac"
"\ActiveObject" = ""
"\ActiveObject\Expr" = "URL"
"\ActiveObject\Mode" = "HOTLINK_MODE_OBJ"
"\ActiveObject\Relative" = "FALSE"
"\ActiveObject\Enabled" = "TRUE"
"\ActiveObject\Alias" = ""
end_metadata

-------------------------

Data

Name, URL

Website, https://www.google.com

File, file://\\path\to\a\file

-------------------------

On v2023 with the latest patch if the table is named Test the table works for me and if named Test_Links it doesn't!

Thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 01:45
From: Peter Møller
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I haven't tested this yet but could it be a question of where the hotlink settings are saved?

Typically, when you specify the hotlink setting you do this for a layer in a map and this gets saved with your workspace.

However, you can save these settings with the table - notice the Save option to table metadata checkbox at the bottom of the Hotlink Options dialog.

With these options saved to the table metadata, the settings aren't only related to a layer, but to a table.

Does that make a difference?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 08:49
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Hello Peter

I have been watching this tread with interest and the "Save options to table metadata" you suggested was the key to get my links working in the Browser. Thanks so much

Keith Holswich - New Zealand

Hi Tom

You should be able to upload the files if you zip them and attach the zip file. Otherwise, try sending it to me: peter.moller@precisely.com.

I tried configuring a table with hotlinks that work with HTTP and HTTPS in the link.

The link does however not work in the browser.

Once I check the option to save the settings to the table metadata, the link also appears in the browser window - only in browser windows opened after saving the settings to the table.

Hi,

Here's a simple example of what I was trying to explain (I can't upload):

-------------------------

!table
!version 300
!charset WindowsLatin1

Definition Table
  Type NATIVE Charset "WindowsLatin1"
  Fields 2
    Name Char (100) ;
    URL Char (100) ;
begin_metadata
"\IsReadOnly" = "FALSE"
"\MapInfo" = ""
"\MapInfo\TableID" = "e00b73e3-342d-486a-b198-2966bacafeac"
"\ActiveObject" = ""
"\ActiveObject\Expr" = "URL"
"\ActiveObject\Mode" = "HOTLINK_MODE_OBJ"
"\ActiveObject\Relative" = "FALSE"
"\ActiveObject\Enabled" = "TRUE"
"\ActiveObject\Alias" = ""
end_metadata

-------------------------

Data

Name, URL

Website, https://www.google.com

File, file://\\path\to\a\file

-------------------------

On v2023 with the latest patch if the table is named Test the table works for me and if named Test_Links it doesn't!

Thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 01:45
From: Peter Møller
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I haven't tested this yet but could it be a question of where the hotlink settings are saved?

Typically, when you specify the hotlink setting you do this for a layer in a map and this gets saved with your workspace.

However, you can save these settings with the table - notice the Save option to table metadata checkbox at the bottom of the Hotlink Options dialog.

With these options saved to the table metadata, the settings aren't only related to a layer, but to a table.

Does that make a difference?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 08:49
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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

Thanks for validating my expectations, Keith.

John and Tom, can you get to the same result?

Thanks

Peter

Hello Peter

I have been watching this tread with interest and the "Save options to table metadata" you suggested was the key to get my links working in the Browser. Thanks so much

Keith Holswich - New Zealand

Hi Tom

You should be able to upload the files if you zip them and attach the zip file. Otherwise, try sending it to me: peter.moller@precisely.com.

I tried configuring a table with hotlinks that work with HTTP and HTTPS in the link.

The link does however not work in the browser.

Once I check the option to save the settings to the table metadata, the link also appears in the browser window - only in browser windows opened after saving the settings to the table.

Hi,

Here's a simple example of what I was trying to explain (I can't upload):

-------------------------

!table
!version 300
!charset WindowsLatin1

Definition Table
  Type NATIVE Charset "WindowsLatin1"
  Fields 2
    Name Char (100) ;
    URL Char (100) ;
begin_metadata
"\IsReadOnly" = "FALSE"
"\MapInfo" = ""
"\MapInfo\TableID" = "e00b73e3-342d-486a-b198-2966bacafeac"
"\ActiveObject" = ""
"\ActiveObject\Expr" = "URL"
"\ActiveObject\Mode" = "HOTLINK_MODE_OBJ"
"\ActiveObject\Relative" = "FALSE"
"\ActiveObject\Enabled" = "TRUE"
"\ActiveObject\Alias" = ""
end_metadata

-------------------------

Data

Name, URL

Website, https://www.google.com

File, file://\\path\to\a\file

-------------------------

On v2023 with the latest patch if the table is named Test the table works for me and if named Test_Links it doesn't!

Thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 01:45
From: Peter Møller
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I haven't tested this yet but could it be a question of where the hotlink settings are saved?

Typically, when you specify the hotlink setting you do this for a layer in a map and this gets saved with your workspace.

However, you can save these settings with the table - notice the Save option to table metadata checkbox at the bottom of the Hotlink Options dialog.

With these options saved to the table metadata, the settings aren't only related to a layer, but to a table.

Does that make a difference?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 08:49
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks, http:// is working for me, but even if the same url and the same Hotlink settings are used it seems hit and miss whether the browser Hotlink button is activated. Sometimes even with a copy of same table, but just in a different folder - one works and the other doesn't. It must be a bug.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 03:52
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

I have url links that are underlined and blue and clickable in the browser - but only if they are https://

They are not active if only http://

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 12:13
From: Tom Parker
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Thanks for this!

One strange thing I'm finding is it's very inconsistent as to whether the hotlink is clickable from the browser. I can't seem to post images but on a working table the Hotlink tool is active when viewing the browser and the link is blue. On the none working one the Hotlink tool is greyed out and the link isn't blue.

The tables are identical (other than the name), same data, same TAB file metadata. One works the other not. I've tested multiple times, but can't pin down what makes it work. I suspect there is some obscure bug - perhaps it is the name?

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 05:17
From: John Ievers
Subject: #MapInfoMonday : Basic Hotspot Linking

Happy #MapInfoMonday!

John Ievers standing in for Peter this week, as he enjoys a well-earned rest (I bet he is still checking-in)

Peter did a really impressive article: Accessing Internet Sites using Hotlinks last year which accessed online oblique imagery of an address location from a choice of 4 directions using Expressions.
https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-accessing-internet-sites-using-hotlinks
I wanted to take this back to the basic usage for newer users.

HotLinking
The Hotlink feature was introduced in MapInfo version 6.0, which was in the year 2000. Quite a lot has changed since then! The initial focus was on linking to display photos or images, rather how we use Google StreetView these days to view images of a particular location.

Yet the HotLink feature was more a case of taking advantage of Microsoft Windows to identify a known file extension that would open the associated application and the named file. So if you want to link to a jpg image and your PC associates jpg files with Paint, then Paint will open with your chosen file. Once you establish that Windows will handle whatever file you want to open and that you have the application on your PC, you can start thinking about linking to all sorts of additional files that will help users to better understand the many aspects to a location.

In the first version, you were only allowed a single column/field to store the file name and path. However you were not limited to a single type of file – remember Windows will open whatever the extension relates to. Now you can add multiple columns that contain hotlinks.
The limit is in storing the path and name or url within 254 characters. Even then, there are tricks to get around that, such as using file locations relative to the table location.

I used my table called Schools to hotlink to both the local image files and online Ofsted Reports (government inspection reports).

When you do select an object with multiple hotlink choices, you will be presented with another option to choose which hotlink you want.

Should this feature become popular, you may wish to consider adding the Hotlink tool to your Map Mini Toolbar attached to your Map Shortcut menu, for easier access to this tool.

If you have Precisely Spectrum Spatial deployed, you can upload your table to the Spatial Repository and use the Template feature to display images and display the url links in a similar way but embedded in the Information panel. The location of your images will need to be accessible for the Spectrum Spatial application, so those paths may need to be amended. Here, you can share your information over the web via a browser on any suitable device.

I hope this has given you some further ideas for hotlinking. 

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