10 replies to this topic

[Mike Breiding]

I am not in a position to purchase a program such as Map Publisher.
Does anyone have any suggestions for plugins useful for map making which are less costly?

Thanks,
-Mike

p.s. Apologies for past and future typos.

[frax]

plugins for illustrator? do you have a solid GIS software to back you up?

On plugins for Illustrator -- you get very far with the basics there, as long as you have some GIS software to prepare the data for you.

[Nick Springer]

Frax is right. As long as you have a GIS that can do decent exports you can get away without MapPublisher.

I use Manifold GIS which for $265 is a good GIS and it exports very well to Illustrator.

[Rick Dey]

Although not specific for mapping, and certainly not in the realm of MAPublisher, you may want to check out Rick Johnson's Graffix plug-ins. Concatenate and Cutting Tools are very useful items I use on a nearly daily basis.

[Mike Breiding]

Not sure what ou mean by "solid GIS software".
I am using ArcView 3.2.

-Mike

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plugins for illustrator? do you have a solid GIS software to back you up?

On plugins for Illustrator -- you get very far with the basics there, as long as you have some GIS software to prepare the data for you.

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[Mike Breiding]

AV 3.2 exports as AI and EPS - but I have no way to determine if this is as good as it gets.

Manifold looks impressive.
I have been using AV3.2 on and off for about 4 years. It has a lot of problems with crashes and graphics display and has caused me a lot of grief and frustration.
Maybe it is time to try another application.

-Mike

Frax is right.  As long as you have a GIS that can do decent exports you can get away without MapPublisher.



I use Manifold GIS which for $265 is a good GIS and it exports very well to Illustrator.

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[Mike Breiding]

Yep, I have checked these out and plan on purchasing RJs productivity pack.

-Mike
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Although not specific for mapping, and certainly not in the realm of MAPublisher, you may want to check out Rick Johnson's Graffix plug-ins.  Concatenate and Cutting Tools are very useful items I use on a nearly daily basis.

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[frax]

I primarily use ArcView 3.2 as a fast viewer when I work with ArcInfo workstation. It might be enough, if you have e.g. spatial analyst, but I would recommend something more if you need to do some more or less heavy manipulation of data.

[Mike Breiding]

I am a light weight as far as data manipulation. Plus, I am spatially and mathematically challenged.

I have thus far made relatively simple trail maps for city parks and generalized area maps to show locations of city parks and businesses.

It is strictly a part time business/hobby for me. So I have limited GIS experience.

-Mike

I primarily use ArcView 3.2 as a fast viewer when I work with ArcInfo workstation. It might be enough, if you have e.g. spatial analyst, but I would recommend something more if you need to do some more or less heavy manipulation of data.

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[MikeParlow]

I am a light weight as far as data manipulation. Plus, I am spatially and mathematically challenged.

I have thus far made relatively simple trail maps for city parks and  generalized area maps to show locations of city parks and businesses.

It is strictly a part time business/hobby for me. So I have limited GIS experience.

-Mike

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Folks - as far as cheap and powerful, would Global Mapper do some of what Mike wants? I've heard good things about it but not sure it can export what he needs.

Cheers, Mike

[frax]

I think the conclusion, from the discussions on this board, is that

a) if you have the bucks, ArcGIS is the way to go
if not, Manifold is a very very good (for the price) and decently priced option

Note that I have never even tried Manifold, but this is my short conclusion/summary of the discussions on this board (which you can find by searching).

We haven't really discussed ArcView 3.x as an option (so far). If you don't have spatial analyst for ArcView, then you will be lacking in any kind of raster capabilities (which you might, or might not need).