MapInfo Pro

We have several teams that use MapInfo. On a day to day basis they each have their own workspace that contains their own data. From time to time they will need to access another team's data or some other reference layer or base map.

If we add every possible table they might ever need to their workspace it makes it unwieldly and slow to open as it seems it has to scan every table even if not visible.

The tables are located within a file system that is not currently very user friendly to navigate.

Does anyone have a solution as to how to sign post where these tables are located? Some kind of catalogue or directory that doesn't rely on the file dialog?

I have looked at the FavoriteMaps addon, but I'm not sure that is suited to list a large number of tables. A CSW server is probably overkill and I haven't managed to find a working one to see if it would do the job.

Many thanks!

We have several teams that use MapInfo. On a day to day basis they each have their own workspace that contains their own data. From time to time they will need to access another team's data or some other reference layer or base map.

If we add every possible table they might ever need to their workspace it makes it unwieldly and slow to open as it seems it has to scan every table even if not visible.

The tables are located within a file system that is not currently very user friendly to navigate.

Does anyone have a solution as to how to sign post where these tables are located? Some kind of catalogue or directory that doesn't rely on the file dialog?

I have looked at the FavoriteMaps addon, but I'm not sure that is suited to list a large number of tables. A CSW server is probably overkill and I haven't managed to find a working one to see if it would do the job.

Many thanks!

Hallo, Tom,

yes, we do something like Peter suggests, whereby we have some dropdown menus created in MapBasic that directly open Workspaces, Tables, or directories from which the user can open a chosen table.  The user does not need to know any directory information as the program takes care of that.  Of course, someone has had to code in all the relevant Workspaces, Tables, and directories in the first place, but at least you have a central "pointer" so if file locations change, you can redirect to them in the program.

Alan.

We have several teams that use MapInfo. On a day to day basis they each have their own workspace that contains their own data. From time to time they will need to access another team's data or some other reference layer or base map.

If we add every possible table they might ever need to their workspace it makes it unwieldly and slow to open as it seems it has to scan every table even if not visible.

The tables are located within a file system that is not currently very user friendly to navigate.

Does anyone have a solution as to how to sign post where these tables are located? Some kind of catalogue or directory that doesn't rely on the file dialog?

I have looked at the FavoriteMaps addon, but I'm not sure that is suited to list a large number of tables. A CSW server is probably overkill and I haven't managed to find a working one to see if it would do the job.

Many thanks!

This looks quite comprehensive, Alan.

Is this a tool you have developed and maintain in-house?

Hallo, Tom,

yes, we do something like Peter suggests, whereby we have some dropdown menus created in MapBasic that directly open Workspaces, Tables, or directories from which the user can open a chosen table.  The user does not need to know any directory information as the program takes care of that.  Of course, someone has had to code in all the relevant Workspaces, Tables, and directories in the first place, but at least you have a central "pointer" so if file locations change, you can redirect to them in the program.

Alan.

We have several teams that use MapInfo. On a day to day basis they each have their own workspace that contains their own data. From time to time they will need to access another team's data or some other reference layer or base map.

If we add every possible table they might ever need to their workspace it makes it unwieldly and slow to open as it seems it has to scan every table even if not visible.

The tables are located within a file system that is not currently very user friendly to navigate.

Does anyone have a solution as to how to sign post where these tables are located? Some kind of catalogue or directory that doesn't rely on the file dialog?

I have looked at the FavoriteMaps addon, but I'm not sure that is suited to list a large number of tables. A CSW server is probably overkill and I haven't managed to find a working one to see if it would do the job.

Many thanks!

Hallo, Tom,

yes, we do something like Peter suggests, whereby we have some dropdown menus created in MapBasic that directly open Workspaces, Tables, or directories from which the user can open a chosen table.  The user does not need to know any directory information as the program takes care of that.  Of course, someone has had to code in all the relevant Workspaces, Tables, and directories in the first place, but at least you have a central "pointer" so if file locations change, you can redirect to them in the program.

Alan.

We have several teams that use MapInfo. On a day to day basis they each have their own workspace that contains their own data. From time to time they will need to access another team's data or some other reference layer or base map.

If we add every possible table they might ever need to their workspace it makes it unwieldly and slow to open as it seems it has to scan every table even if not visible.

The tables are located within a file system that is not currently very user friendly to navigate.

Does anyone have a solution as to how to sign post where these tables are located? Some kind of catalogue or directory that doesn't rely on the file dialog?

I have looked at the FavoriteMaps addon, but I'm not sure that is suited to list a large number of tables. A CSW server is probably overkill and I haven't managed to find a working one to see if it would do the job.

Many thanks!