Maptitude pre-purchase FAQ

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Unlike many other mapping and GIS software packages that require users to purchase data separately, Maptitude includes extensive geographic and demographic data so that you can get started as soon as you install the software. Maptitude is also a professional mapping tool providing a full suite of location intelligence tools, which is in stark contrast to the limiting functionality of most mapping applications.

Maptitude mapping software includes the features and data that you need to unearth the trends hidden in your data. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions. Please contact Caliper Sales at sales@caliper.com or +1 617-527-4700 if you have further questions or want to discuss your particular needs.

 

“Can I see my customers and prospects on the map?”
Yes. Maptitude includes state-of-the-art geocoding tools to let you pin-map your data using address, ZIP Code, city, state, or other information in your database. In most cases, you don’t need to copy or import your data – Maptitude can create a file containing the location of points on the map and link this file directly to your existing database.
 
“Can I get my own data into Maptitude?”

Yes. Maptitude is designed to let you display, edit, and map your own data. For details, see: https://www.caliper.com/maptitude/mapyourdata.htm

 
“How do I get my data into Maptitude?”
Create-a-Map Wizard® gives you start-to-finish assistance for getting your data into Maptitude. With just a few clicks you can locate, analyze, and map your data. Maptitude can work with your Excel, Access, dBASE, and other data sources.

Maptitude also makes it easy to use your geographic data. Maptitude supports direct access for Esri Shapefiles and File Geodatabases, Google Earth KML/KMZ, MapInfo TAB files, MapPoint PTM files, and Oracle Spatial tables. Additional import support is included for other GIS and CAD packages including ArcView, ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth, Atlas GIS, AutoCAD DXF, MapInfo MIF, and TIGER/Line. For a full list of supported import/export formats, see: https://www.caliper.com/maptitude/dataaccess.htm

 
“What data are included with Maptitude?”
Included in Maptitude are:

  • One Country Package of your choice. Each Country Package contains nationwide streets, administrative boundaries, populated places (cities, towns, villages), landmarks, water areas, and, where available, postal boundaries, postal points, and building footprints for selected urban areas.
  • Where available, detailed demographic data are provided (US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom)
  • Worldwide data.

For more information on data included with Maptitude, see: https://www.caliper.com/maptdata.htm

 
“Can I use Maptitude data with other programs?”
The data that come with Maptitude are restricted by license for use only with the Maptitude software. However, any files that you create are yours to use in any way you like.
 
“Can I use Maptitude on an Apple Macintosh?”
Yes. If your Mac has an Intel CPU, you can use virtualization software such as VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop to run Windows, or indeed you can also boot up your machine natively in Windows using Apple’s Boot Camp software. Any of these solutions works very well for running Maptitude.

With any of these options you would need to have a Microsoft Windows license. Apple’s Boot Camp is free with the Mac OS, but VMWare and Parallels are commercial products.

In addition to Maptitude licenses being able to run on Intel chip Apple Macs with Windows, Maptitude can be enabled to run on Apple Mac ARM M1/M2 chips with Windows, or on a Surface Pro with an ARM chip. Please contact Sales for the ARM enabled version.

Alternatively, Maptitude Online provides an ever expanding list of features and may be a great solution for Mac users because it does not require Windows or a local installation.

 
“Can I customize an application or integrate Maptitude into my application?”
Yes. The Maptitude Geographic Information System Development Kit (GISDK) is a full-featured macro-programming and application development language that lets you automate repetitive tasks or create custom applications. For details, see: https://www.caliper.com/maptitude/development.htm
 
“Does Maptitude support satellite and aerial images?”
Yes, Maptitude can display TIFF, GeoTIFF, PNG, JPEG/World, JPEG 2000, MrSID, SPOTView, Orthophoto, and ECW image files. After you display an image, you can use the geographic editing tools to trace new map layers. Maptitude also includes tools that let you incorporate imagery from various Internet sources in your maps. For details, see: https://www.caliper.com/learning/media/using-aerial-and-satellite-imagery-in-a-maptitude-map/
 
“Can I distribute maps I make with Maptitude?”
There are certain restrictions on publishing maps that make use of Caliper copyrighted data sets. Please see https://www2.caliper.com/store/sales-policies/. If you use only your data sets there are no restrictions on publication.

“Can I put maps I make with Maptitude on a web site?”
 
“Can Maptitude tell me how to get from one place to another?”
Yes. Maptitude includes a HERE map with street data that contains information on one-way streets and travel time allowing you to find shortest and fastest routes. Maptitude also solves “traveling salesman” problems allowing you to find efficient routes among many stops.
 
“Can I use Maptitude maps with my word processor or spreadsheet?”
Yes. You can copy maps to other applications using the Windows clipboard or by saving maps as Windows bitmap, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, EMF, or PNG files. For details, see: https://www.caliper.com/learning/articles/save-maps-to-pdf/
You can also upload to and from spreadsheet formats such as Excel or CSV.
 
“How do I learn to use Maptitude?”
Maptitude is very easy to learn and use. It uses a standard Windows interface with menus, toolbars, and on-line help, so it will seem familiar to you. Create-A-Map Wizard dialog box will ask just a few questions, then create a map at any scale from all the countries of the world to streets around a U.S. address, landmark, or intersection.

There are a number of options available to help you learn to use Maptitude:

  • Free video tutorials are provided that illustrate many common Maptitude tasks.
  • A detailed electronic help system is accessible through the menu Help>Maptitude Help. This also contains many brief tutorials that give you the opportunity to practice each command on our sample data, and can be accessed within Maptitude by clicking F1 on your keyboard at any time for context sensitive help from within any toolbox, tool, or window.
  • Free mapping software webinars (and videos of past webinars with audio) on the Maptitude Mapping Software Webinars page. The webinars are conducted regularly and you can attend as many as you want.
  • Our online learning portal has videos, articles, tips, and more.
  • Training options include web-based Maptitude training, classroom training, and on-site training.
“Is training available?”
Caliper offers Maptitude training courses throughout the year. Whether you are a new user or an experienced user of earlier versions of Maptitude, these training sessions will help you learn to use Maptitude more effectively and productively. There are also a number of on-line training materials including a number of video tutorials for common Maptitude tasks.
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