A Windows Integration Sanity Test

Lots of vendors in GIS markets will tell you they are "well integrated" with Microsoft Windows, but surprisingly few even know the difference between Windows XP and Windows 2000.  Some do not even work correctly in Windows NT!  Be wary of fast-talking GIS salesmen who promise modern standards but deliver yesterday's techologies buffed up with a fresh coat of paint.

We're going to assume that the reader has already decided Microsoft is here to stay, and that there are many benefits from being well integrated with Microsoft operating systems.  Here are some test questions you might find helpful in assessing just how "integrated" a product is with Microsoft's latest, state-of-the-art software:

Is the user interface a dressed up UNIX command line interface?  Surprisingly many GIS products, even those that sell for thousands of dollars, include numerous instances of "living-fossil" user-interface technology.  Coelocanths were thought to be extinct for tens of millions of years before a live specimen was caught in the Indian Ocean.  UNIX command line interfaces (even within UNIX!) should also be extinct, so don't let one pop up inside your GIS package.  Insist on a user interface like Manifold's that harnesses the visual power of Microsoft's Windows metaphor, all the time.

Is the vendor peddling a warmed over Windows 3.1 or '95 toolbar, or do they use modern "railbar" command buttons?  Here's an instant tip-off that a software package is not keeping up with the latest Windows user interface technology.  The image on the right shows the '95 style toolbar button interface.  On larger displays, the buttons look overly large and clunky and the extra beveling on the buttons leads to a "crowded" appearance.   The image on the left shows the more modern "railbar" button style introduced by Microsoft in Office '97.   By eliminating the bevels, Microsoft provided a more uncluttered display that is better able to utilize modern, larger screens.  Manifold System uses only modern railbar technology.  Note: Clunky, old-style toolbars might also be a sign that the program was never really ported to Windows '95, but has been recycled from Windows 3.1.  This is rare, but it happens!

Has the program achieved Microsoft's "Designed for Windows XP" status? - Manifold is the first and only professional GIS and mapping application to achieve the coveted "Designed For Windows XP" status.   When installed in Windows XP, Manifold System Release 5.00 automatically configures the "look and feel" of the product to match Windows XP.  5.00 qualifies 100% for Microsoft's Designed for Windows XP software qualification program!  Applications meeting the Designed for Windows XP criteria must meet key requirements that assure the software will run correctly on Windows XP.  Requirements include: Support for fast user switching between users; Support for new visual styles; Performance of primary functionality and maintain stability; All kernel-mode drivers that the application installs must pass verification on Windows XP; Applications perform Windows version checking properly; Applications do not attempt to replace files that are protected by Windows File Protection; Applications do not require a reboot unnecessarily.

Image at right: A column formatting dialog for table windows in Manifold seen in XP automatically uses the modern XP look for controls.

Is the program supported within Windows 2000,  Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 98SE and Windows '98?  Surprisingly many programs are not "2000 aware", and work/install only within Windows '95, or their vendors are not completely "with it" when it comes to supporting use within Windows 2000.  manifold.net is an "Microsoft shop" throughout and develops exclusively in Windows XP with support for Windows 2000 and back-ports to Windows NT, Me, 98 and 98SE.   As a Microsoft ISV, we receive a constant stream of Microsoft CDs with every new beta and copies of all Microsoft products in dozens of languages.    We support Manifold today in the very latest, very newest Windows releases.

Does the program use Microsoft data access standards? Surprisingly many GIS programs use dBase formats for data attribute storage instead of Microsoft standards. ESRI's ArcView program, for example, uses dBase .dbf format as an integral part of "shapefiles," the native format of ArcView.  dBase was certainly a step forward for CP/M in the late 1970's,  but unless one has an interest in antique software it is hardly as useful in modern Microsoft environments as Microsoft standards.  Worse still, some GIS systems actually use their own, proprietary database storage formats.  Manifold uses only Microsoft formats, including perfect support for the latest in Microsoft Universal Data Access using Microsoft standards such as OLE DB, ODBC, UDL, Access MDB, MSDE and SQL Server.  To assure perfect compatibility with Microsoft data access standards, Manifold uses Microsoft's own code to connect to Microsoft file types (such as Access .mdb and Excell .xls) as well as to Windows standard database providers such as Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, and MySql.    That means that Manifold is directly compatible with Microsoft products such as Access and Excel as well as with all of the thousands of other Microsoft standard, third party programs that use Microsoft's database formats and data access methods.

Are Microsoft languages and standards used for scripting?   Don't be handcuffed by some bizarre, one of a kind language invented by a GIS company.  Microsoft language standards such as Visual Basic provide greater freedom and make more economic sense than being handcuffed by some vendor's proprietary language. If your GIS software cannot use Microsoft language standards in its scripting system, you'll be forced to learn some proprietary language and will be unable to take advantage of advances in Microsoft languages developed by the rest of the software industry.  Manifold System uses Microsoft's ActiveX technology to allow scripting using any Microsoft-standard ActiveX scripting language, such as Visual Basic Scripting or Javascript.  Every copy of Manifold includes Visual Basic scripting and Javascript.  Use third party objects, COM, and all the rest!  It's easy and fun.  Advanced programmers can control Manifold using standard Microsoft Visual Basic or Visual C++ or any other standard Microsoft-compatible language.  

Are Microsoft Development Tools used to create the product?  While fine products may be created using any development environment, it stands to reason that products developed with Microsoft's own development tools and development libaries, which use actual Microsoft code to implement Windows interfaces, will provide the best compatibility with Microsoft Windows technologies.  Manifold System uses Microsoft Visual C++ and Microsoft Visual Studio to implement modern Windows interfaces using Microsoft's own code.   When you install Manifold System, you actually install numerous items of advanced Microsoft code.  Manifold is the only GIS compiled using the latest Microsoft tools, including Visual Studio .NET.  In fact, when Manifold launches it uses Microsoft XML parsing code to configure itself using XML files that may be user-edited.

Can the program publish web pages with Microsoft Internet Information Server? - The Internet provides a way to publish your projects worldwide at effectively zero cost.  Internet methods are also used to communicate within organizations using intranets.  If a GIS program claims to be "Microsoft compatible" it sure better be able to work perfectly with Microsoft's Internet Information Server that's built into the latest versions of Windows.  Manifold IMS is a very high performance, sophisticated map server that's designed to work exclusively with Microsoft Internet Information Server to automatically publish your map projects dynamically to web pages.  Manifold supports high-end IIS features like object pooling and session state free operation.  Don't settle for some clunky, overpriced UNIX-derived map server that uses CGI - Manifold uses Microsoft's own Active Server Pages .asp files for fast server-side pages that are tightly integrated with IIS.

Does the program provide tool tips, right-mouse click pop-up menus and standard Windows selection methods?  "Tool tips" are those helpful tips that spontaneously pop up when your mouse cursor lingers over a command button.  Manifold System includes full tool tips on all toolbar buttons, as well as supplemental prompts in the status line.   Clicking in various areas with the right mouse calls up context sensitive pop-up menus that change depending on the context of the click.  Programs that are tightly integrated with the Windows user inteface will use standard Windows highlighting and selection methods in dialogs.  For example, in Manifold, to select all records in a table between two records we can click on the first record and then SHIFT-click on the second record.  All records in between will also be highlighted.

Does the program use standard Windows dialogs?   Ever encounter a "Windows" application that doesn't understand about Network Neighborhoods, but instead requires a clumsy renaming of a network hard disk as a local volume before you can open a file on the networked drive?  That's a sign of out-of-date Windows programming.  Programs that are ported to Windows instead of being developed within Windows often feature numerous strange interfaces in lieu of standard Windows dialogs.  Manifold System was developed 100% in Windows for Windows.  All Manifold file manipulation dialogs use standard, modern Windows dialogs for complete compatiblity with the latest generation of Microsoft networking.

Can you use the full range of Windows fonts and colors? Surprisingly many programs not fully integrated with Windows cannot handle the full range of colors available in modern graphics cards built for Windows.   Manifold System uses the full palette range available within your Windows system, using standard Windows dialogs. Fonts also are managed using standard Windows fonts dialogs to give you the full use of all fonts installed in your system.

Does the program provide Microsoft programming controls?  Only Manifold includes a drag and drop forms creation capability similar to that of Visual Studio, with direct support for a wide range of standard Microsoft controls that may be dragged and dropped into the form.  Microsoft-style "smart mouse" selection and alignment controls mean that forms creation is similar to that of all standard Microsoft forms-capable applications.

Is the program network aware within Microsoft networks?  Although Microsoft networking supports industry standards such as TCP/IP, it's nice to have a GIS package that is completely integrated with Microsoft networking software as well as with UNIX standards.  That lets you take advantage of file systems throughout your local Microsoft network without the need to become a UNIX hacker, TCP wizard or network administrator.  Manifold is not only network aware at this level, it is capable of actually mapping Microsoft (and other) networks and file systems. 

Does the program use standard Windows 32 bit icon and bitmap formats?  Programs that use standard Windows graphics resources (like Manifold, of course!) can utilize a vast array of icons and bitmaps.  Manifold can be customized to use any graphics file for point icons.  Cool!  We've heard that other GIS programs make the addition of new icons virtually impossible, in some case requiring the acquisition of exotic and expensive tools. 

Now's the time to purchase Manifold! - Windows is here to stay, and the sooner your investments in computer software really support Windows, the better!   If you find yourself wondering why your existing GIS vendor is moving with glacial speed to catch up with yesterday's Windows standards, buy a copy of Manifold and see what a really progressive software vendor like manifold.net can do for you.  Save time, save money, and feel smarter too!

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