Autodesk 15606-011408-9008 User Guide - Page 182

MapInfo Interchange File (MIF/MID) A data format that includes files created in MapInfo. You can convert these files to latitude/longitude SDFs using the SDF Loader. map layer A grouping of map features that are stored and displayed together. Individual map layers can be turned on and off to show or hide the features they contain. When all map layers are displayed, they overlap like transparencies and show all features in the map. There can be several types of Autodesk MapGuide map layers, including ones sourced from SDF files, SHP files, DWG files, and so on. map projection The representation of the Earth, which is curved, on a flat map surface. A map projection defines the units and characteristics of a coordinate system. The three basic types of map projections are azimuthal, conical, and cylindrical. map scale The ratio between one unit of distance on the map and the real-world distance it represents. For example, if a map is displayed at a scale of 1:200,000, then one centimeter on the map would represent 200,000 centimeters (2,000 meters) in the real world. The larger the second number in the ratio, the larger the area of the world that is displayed (zoomed out), and the smaller the scale; the smaller the second number in the ratio, the smaller the area of the world that is displayed (zoomed in), and the larger the scale. For example, 1:1 is life size and is therefore large scale, whereas 1:200,000,000 is zoomed out to display the whole Earth and is therefore small scale. The fact that a larger second number creates a smaller scale and vice versa can be very confusing. A good phrase to remember is "as large as life" to help you remember that the closer you get to a scale of 1:1 (life size), the larger the scale is. Map Window File (MWF) Created with Autodesk MapGuide Author, Map Window Files (MWFs) contain the specifications of the map window. These specifications include the boundary of the map, the background color, data source information (SQL databases, Spatial Data Files, and raster image files), layers of cartographic data (such as roads and countries), layer display information (such as styles and display ranges), and map display configuration specifications (such as menus and legends). Map Window XML file (MWX) Created with Autodesk MapGuide Author, Map Window XML files contain the specifications of the map window in XML format. These specifications are denoted by XML element tags, or XML Nodes, that specify the boundary of the map, the background color, data source information (SQL databases, Spatial Data Files, and raster image files), layers of cartographic data (such as roads and countries), layer display information (such as styles and display ranges), and map display configuration specifications (such as menus and legends). MapTip The information that is displayed in a yellow popup when the user pauses the mouse pointer over a map feature. See also ToolTip. Microsoft Data Link (UDL) file A file that establishes an OLE DB connection between Autodesk MapGuide Server and a provider, such as the Autodesk Spatial Data Provider for SHP. UDL files have a .udl extension and include the type of data to access, the server where the data resides, and the database where the data is stored. You can create or modify UDL files using Autodesk MapGuide Server Admin. Microstation Design File (DGN) A data format that includes files created in Intergraph/Bentley Microstation. You can convert these files to latitude/longitude SDFs using the SDF Loader. MIF/MID file format See MapInfo Interchange File MrSID See Multi-Resolution Seamless Image Database. 182 | Glossary