Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Software's MapViewer and Surfer from the United
States, and Maps 35/40 (European Standard
Software 1995) from Denmark are good examples.
These are custom cartographic packages providing
the user with a toolbox that lies somewhere
between a pure digital mapping package and a
graphics design package, as well as having the
benefit of a spreadsheet window to help to plot map
data input by the user. For the non-cartographer,
the toolbox in, for example, MapViewer, offers a
simple way to plot spatial data, and the tools a means
to add to and customise the map. The package
provides some cartographic guidance for the novice
in the sense that it constrains the user to a fixed set
of map types. However, each item on the map,
whether it is an area, a symbol, or text, is an 'object'
and its properties can therefore be altered. This
provides a great deal of flexibility for the
experimental cartographer, allowing them to cut,
paste, move, change, add and delete objects that
make up the map. At the same time, too much
design freedom without appropriate cartographic
guidance means that the user can create a relatively
poor cartographic end product.
PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
Other software products such as Microsoft's
Powerpoint presentation software (part of the MS
Office suite) provides users with a selection of very
basic map outlines and clip art as the basis for
creating simple maps to add variety to overhead
slide presentations (both manual and electronic)
(Figure 41.3). Annotation can be added to
complete the map, and since each item drawn is
an object, it is possible to alter the appearance of
the maps to suit.
Figure 41.3
Powerpoint-prepared presentation graphics.
