Comments on: Map Maker Gratis: Free Map Editor

By: Joe Thompson

Joe Thompson — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:12:58 +0000

I regularly use MM Pro for making wetland delineation and habitat maps, and am fairly happy with it. Although it does not re-project on-the-fly, it can manually reproject vector data into any coordinate system. It also creates very nice looking maps without a very steep learning curve. In fact, I work in an office with a bunch of ArcMap users and I can make better looking maps at a fraction of the time they need. The problem I have with MM is that it chokes on very large aerials and complex vector data, even when using a hot-rod computer. It can do pretty much any routine GIS task if you take the time to learn the program, which includes carefully reading the manual. Once in a while I find it easier to use Global Mapper for things like batch reprojections, and just use MM for cartography, a task where it really shines.

By: Nick Hopton

Nick Hopton — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:20:42 +0000

I agree with what Gerhard says above, it’s good to see Map Maker getting some attention.

Styles in Map Maker can be a little confusing. I find the easiest way of dealing with styles is to think about the ones I’ll need for the points, lines and polygons at the very start of a project and then create them, before any objects are added to the map. Once this is done the styles can be applied to the objects as they are created, it’s so simple and it keeps everything (including one’s thoughts) on the straight and narrow.

For me, one of the killer features of MM is the cutter tool. Using this makes slicing a large polygon into lots of smaller ones, all of them perfect (no overlaps or gaps here), so easy.

The way that MM can handle simple survey data is very powerful and easy to understand.

By: Leszek Pawlowicz

Leszek Pawlowicz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:43:04 +0000

MapMaker Gratis should be able to open files in geographic format. You will have to make sure that all data files are in the same projection, as MapMaker Gratis does not do on-the-fly re-projection.

By: Gerhard

Gerhard — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:18:32 +0000

Leszek,

I am happy, you ‘found’ Map Maker and gave it a positive review. It is tremendous, what a great variety of features are offered in this free/cheapware. It can compete in nearly every aspect with the conventional GIS packages – for a fraction of money and time.

Having worked for so many years in GIS applications worldwide, there is the strong need for ready-to-use, affordable GIS software.

This can not be covered by ‘established’, conventional, expensive GIS software. These might have been the only option some 10-20 years ago, but now over the top in every aspect – and not affordable for many GIS users.

Also the now strongly growing field of open-source GIS platforms does not cover the needs of many actual GIS applications demands. They require too much resources: Time, developers, money.

Therefore, a cheap, powerful GIS like Map Maker is the only answer, of course together with all your efforts on freegeographytools.com.

As you mentioned, the only bottleneck is the ‘fairly steep learning curve’, particularly at the beginning. It takes days even for professionals to appreciate all the plenty of functionalities in Map Maker. Also has a few minor software glitches.

I am trying to assist Map Maker users, particularly in our land use planning project, with a specific-use-oriented manual at http://www.GerhardBechtold.com/LUPMIS/Manual .

By: Nishant Singh

Nishant Singh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:33:51 +0000

Sir,

Can files be opened in global co-ordinate system in Map Maker gratis version.

It does no show this option in the list when we try to open a file.

Regards
Nishant Singh