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The MapInfo Pro Viewer

  • 1.  The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 12-13-2018 11:14
    Edited by Shweta Shukla 12-19-2018 23:51

    MapInfo Pro Viewer

     

    MapInfo Pro v 17.0.2 reintroduces the MapInfo ProViewer, but in a new way.  The previous version of the ProViewer was a standalone application with a different user interface.  The new ProViewer ("Viewer") is based on the same program code as the full version of MapInfo Pro so the user interface is the same.  In addition, you can save maps and layouts to pdf or image formats and open all the same file types as the full version.  Be sure to read the blog posts in the MapInfo Pro Community for more info on the ways that MapInfo Pro can enable different types of users to get the value of geospatial analysis and visualization in an organization.

     

    To run the Viewer version of MapInfo Pro, the user must create an online account, which can be done from MapInfo Pro by selecting the "Pro" tab and then clicking on "Services" or clicking the following link: 

    https://signup.pitneybowes.com/signup/mipro

    Capabilities and Limitations

    When running MapInfo Pro in Viewer mode, it is essential to be connected to your Pitney Bowes account upon start-up. Each MapInfo Pro account is assigned to a Viewer plan which can be launched from the Start Menu.

    MapInfo Pro Viewer supports all languages supported by MapInfo Pro.

     

    Features and Limitations

     

    1. MapInfo Pro Viewer mode allows you to open and view any MapInfo Pro workspace

    2. (.wor) file. In addition, MapInfo .tab files and other supported formats (such as geopackage, csv, excel, sql server, postgis, etc.) can be opened and viewed.

     

    3. Limited analysis is allowed such as queries, selections, browsing data, turning map layers on/off.

     

    4. Printing and exporting to pdf of Maps and Layouts are allowed.

     

    5. Limited editing of Layout text and image frame is allowed before printing.

     
    6. Editing of data is not supported (restricted).
     

    7. Saving of any changes to the workspace is also not allowed in the Viewer plan.

     

    8. Running a MapInfo Pro Add-in or other .mbx programs is not possible in the Viewer.

     

    9. In Viewer mode, Bing basemaps and the Search capability are only allowed if the User has a Bing key which can be entered on the Backstage Licensing Tab.

     

    Version 17 of MapInfo Pro introduced our new "Customer Experience Program" which anonymously tracks user activity.  This information is used to identify most commonly used features and areas for improvement.  If running MapInfo Pro in Viewer mode, the User cannot opt-out of the Customer Experience Program.  The full version of MapInfo Pro gives the User the option to turn off the Customer Experience Program from Pro > Options > Application Preferences.

     

    Styling in Viewer:

    The Viewer uses a subdued gray theme, which is quite different from the MapInfo Pro color scheme.

     If the User wants to keep the same style as MapInfo Pro, it can be changed in the styles\MapInfoProStyle.xml file under the MapInfo Pro installation folder, changing the

    "OverrideDefaultStyle" key to "true".

     

    Installation:

    The same MapInfoPro.exe is used to install the normal licensed version of MapInfo Pro, the trial version and the Viewer version. 


    In the Viewer mode the SPATIAL Tab is hidden, along with some groups from the Map and Table Tabs. Other commands on the ribbon are hidden or disabled.

     
    When running in Viewer mode MapInfo Pro uses different docking and ribbon state filenames to allow for separate window and ribbon customizations based on the plan name.


     For example:

    • MapInfoPro.RibbonState_Viewer.<language code>.xml
    • MapInfoPro.DockingState_Viewer.xml

     

    While installing MapInfo Pro, if the license key is entered, both the Viewer and the licensed Pro is installed, MapInfo Pro being the default mode.

     

    There are two files installed in the same location as MapInfo Pro is installed.

    • DefaultToFullPro.reg - Default to normal licensed mode.
    • DefaultToSubscription.reg - Default to Viewer mode.

     

    Double-click on either file to set the registry key value to have it as the default mode.



    ------------------------------
    Shweta Shukla
    Knowledge Community Shared Account
    Noida, India
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 12-18-2018 04:17
    Hi Shweta,

    great news that the ProViewer is back!

    But does that really mean that every user needs to go online and log in before being able to use that software?

    I would expect problems here, if some employe of a big company with restricted internet access (and thats not rarely the case) wants to use it, - or is there an option to use it without internet access?

    cheers
    Stefan


  • 3.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 12-18-2018 04:47
    Hi Stefan

    Yes, the user needs to sign in with a PB account to be able to use the free MapInfo Pro Viewer. They only need to manually login the first time, after this Pro will login automatically the next time you launch MapInfo Pro.

    Also notice this part of the requirements for using MapInfo Pro Viewer:
    Version 17 of MapInfo Pro introduced our new "Customer Experience Program" which anonymously tracks user activity.  This information is used to identify most commonly used features and areas for improvement.  If running MapInfo Pro in Viewer mode, the User cannot opt-out of the Customer Experience Program.  The full version of MapInfo Pro gives the User the option to turn off the Customer Experience Program from Pro > Options > Application Preferences.

    So not only do they need to be only to login to their PB Account. They also need to be online to share their usage. 

    If this is a problem for some organisations, we have other options to pick from that doesn't necessary require them to be connected to the internet, such as MapInfo Pro, MapInfo Pro Runtime and Spectrum Spatial Analyst.







    ------------------------------
    Peter Horsbøll Møller
    Pitney Bowes
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 12-18-2018 05:16
    The https://signup.devportal.pitneycloud.com/signup/mipro link is timing out for me, anyone else?

    ------------------------------
    Chris Jenkins
    Pitney Bowes Software Ltd
    Henley-on-Thames
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 12-18-2018 05:42
    Hello Peter,

    thanks for the answer!

    Not so good news, - i'm pretty shure, that it-departments of big companies wont like and allow that, - look at the problems companies have  with installing windows 10, just because of its habit of "calling home".
    But nowadays there are ways to stop this in windows 10, - and since some month i see it getting installed.

    I would hope, that there is also a way to use the new ProViewer in a way it was possible with the old one: without being online & monitored.

    with regards

    Stefan

    @Chris Jenkins
    ...no the link doesn't work for me either​


  • 6.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 12-18-2018 07:55

    The main reason that the Viewer requires being connected to the internet is that we haven't developed a way to use it offline yet.  However, we will be doing that in 2019.  Also, usage tracking is not intended to be a burden to users, it's a way for us to capture valuable information to find ways to improve MapInfo Pro.  It's ok if we don't have usage tracking when a user is offline.  We have plenty of data from when they are online.  Also, many of our v17 users have opted into usage tracking, and as of last <g class="gr_ gr_1707 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1707" data-gr-id="1707">week</g> we have captured usage data from over 5,000 users with almost 200,000 sessions and nearly 12 million events!  This only includes users who meet a minimum threshold of usage.  We'll be sharing our insights in this Community and asking for feedback and validation so that we can help our users be more productive as they do their work.

    Jim Stone



    ------------------------------
    Jim Stone
    Pitney Bowes
    Product Manager, MapInfo Pro
    Reading, MA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 12-18-2018 05:50
    Use this one instead: https://signup.pitneybowes.com/signup/mipro

    Or even better use the forms shown in MapInfo Pro instead and follow the steps there.

    ------------------------------
    Peter Horsbøll Møller
    Pitney Bowes
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 12-19-2018 19:32
    Hi,

    So do I understand correctly that there won't be a separate installer file for ProViewer? Such as was previously available:

    http://www.pbinsight.com.au/support/product-downloads/for/mapinfo-proviewer

    User will need to install the full version or MapInfo Pro. But if they don't have a license (activation code) for the full version, they can still use Pro Viewer?

    Regards


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



  • 9.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 12-19-2018 19:35
    Yes, the same installation works for full version and a Viewer. You simply use a Viewer shortcut to launch MapInfo in a Viewer mode.

    Regards,
    Andrei

    ------------------------------
    Andrei Veselov
    Knowledge Community Shared Account
    Shelton CT
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 12-20-2018 11:49
    Shweta - should we call it ProViewer or Viewer?  :D

    ------------------------------
    Emma Daniel
    CDR Group
    HOPE VALLEY United Kingdom
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 05-02-2022 07:26

    Hi

    This link's certificate has expired and thus is flagged as possibly dangerous.

    https://signup.pitneybowes.com/signup/mipro

    Regards



    ------------------------------
    Stephen Townsend
    Precisely Software Pty Ltd
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 05-02-2022 08:28
    Hi Stephen

    I assume you are using MapInfo Pro Viewer v17, right?
    Can you try using MapInfo Pro Viewer v2021 (or potentially v2019.3) instead? We only have rebranded these versions to Precisely.

    The sign up page has been moved to here: https://signup.saas.precisely.com/signup/mipro 

    You can read more about MapInfo Pro Viewer in this article: MapInfo Monday: MapInfo Viewer.


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



  • 13.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Posted 05-02-2022 09:58
    Hi
    I can't even access my Precisely account because the server is unavailable.

    Cheers






  • 14.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 05-03-2022 01:23
    Hi

    What version of MapInfo Pro Viewer are you using?
    It might be worth sending an email to our support if there's an issue with your account: support@precisely.com

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



  • 15.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 05-03-2022 08:29
    There was apparently some hiccups going on with server yesterday that Precisely IT appeared to have addressed.  I was getting same issue myself last night and it was resolved with no action on my part this morning.  Please try again.

    ------------------------------
    Bill Wemple
    Principal Software Engineer, Quality Management
    Precisely, Inc
    precisely.com
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: The MapInfo Pro Viewer

    Employee
    Posted 05-04-2022 18:38

    Update: The Certificate issue has been corrected. A particular browser was failing the certificate a few days before the actual expiry date.

    The Certificate has been updated now beyond that date and you should no longer be encountering any login issues.
    Please create a case with support@precisely.com should you still be encountering this issue.



    ------------------------------
    Terry Hunt
    Support Engineer
    Precisely
    Sydney, Australia
    ------------------------------
    ------------------------------