Możliwości opracowania kartogramów i kartodiagramów w programie MapInfo Professional 10.5

W artykule przeanalizowano i oceniono możliwości opracowania kartogramów i kartodiagramów w jednym z programów typu GIS -MapInfo Professional 10.5. Omówione możliwości programu skonfrontowano z zasadami metodyki kartograficznej.

Autors analyze and evaluate the possibilities of elaborating choropleth maps and diagrams using one of the most popular programs for servicing geographic information systems - MapInfo Professional 10.5. The article focuses only on two forms of cartographic presentation since they are the most frequently used and described in detail in MapInfo. The classification of map elaboration methods used in the MapInfo program is completely different from the classification accepted in Polish cartography. Not only is the "classification" completely different, but also MapInfo features methods unknown and incorrect from the cartographical point of view. These erratic solutions adversely affect the evaluation of the program. MapInfo Professional is made for a wide range of potential users, therefore it would seem natural to expect that they be given correct basics of cartographic methodology. Terminology used both in the program and in the MapInfo guides very often differs from the terminology accepted in Polish cartography, which is a serious problem. Not only does it adversely affect the understanding of the program, but also causes chaotic terminology to spread. In the analyzed program the diagram can be generated by as many as four methods of generating a thematic map which makes it the program's most developed method of cartographic presentation. However, it is impossible to generate a diagram map illustrating values of a phenomenon with the use of a graph. Considering all sorts of diagrams (one- and multi--parameter, flat and three-dimentional block), it appears that only a small part of those can be generated in MapInfo Professional. There are options to elaborate one parameter flat geometric diagrams in the shape of a circle, half circle, column, square, triangle and polygon. While editing, the user has the option of changing their filling and contour. The lack of the option to adapt the size of diagrams to the size of base units is the program's very serious disadvantage, as automation and acceleration of map elaboration process is a feature quite expected of GIS software. Including an adequate algorithm seems indispensible. It is possible to generate a line diagram in the same form as a related to point or an area diagram in the program. In such a case the diagram is put in the "middle" of the line to which it refers (fig. 8). The solution is completely inconsistent with cartographic methodology and cannot be classified within cartographic methods of presentation. According to the information in MapInfo user guide (2008) the so-called division method is the equivalent of the second method of presentation mentioned in this article- the choropleth map. It appears, however, that with this "method" it is possible to present all quantitative data. There is no warning that the choropleth map can only be applied for presenting relative data. Moreover, there is no option to generate a continuous or two-variable choropleth map, or a correct legend. Attempts to generate choropleth maps and diagrams in MapInfo have proved that the suggested solutions are not entirely correct and satisfactory. Although the program contains many useful functions, they are underdeveloped and occasionally can even mislead the user.