Customising MapInfo with the MapBasic programming language

MapInfo offers several ways of customisation either through the application of Workspaces or through using the MapBasic programming language. Whilst both ArcGIS and QGIS favour Python for customisation of their respective systems MapInfo has always supplied MapBasic for this purpose. With MapBasic the creation of turn-key applications, utilities and extensions can add new functionality to MapInfo software.

MapInfo can be enhanced by developing programs to resolve problems such as repetitive tasks by using MapBasic. Until recently, MapInfo supplied MapBasic at an additional cost. However, recently a change of policy means you can now download the software without charge. The MapBasic development environment consists of a text editor, compiler and linker. If you decide to download MapBasic you can also access User and Reference guides to help with developing your own programs. If you have had some VisualBasic experience then MapBasic code will probably be fairly easy to understand. However, unlike VisualBasic, MapBasic does not have an IDE (integrated development environment). This means that creating dialogue boxes, buttons and other visual tools can involve additional work as thereis no way of knowing if you have correctly positioned them. This can often result in a trial and error approach to creating an interface. MapBasic can create dialogue boxes, drop down menus but only through code which also includes the necessary positional information. Having coded the interface you may have to readjust the position of the various elements several times to meet your requirements. This sometimes means compiling and then recompiling until you achieve your objective.

You can use MapInfo with VisualBasic and other programming languages which have an IDE. This would be an effective way to get round the problems of positioning controls when creating your dialogue boxes. Additionally, you could go onto the Pitney Bowes website and download an IDE which has been developed by a third party developer which has been specifically written as a MapBasic IDE. You can create your dialogue boxes in this IDE and then create the appropriate MapBasic dialogue code automatically. There are also many other features including colour coding within this IDE which makes coding MapBasic an easier proposition than the standard interface.

The availability of MapBasic as a free download together with the recent addition of a MapBasic IDE should encourage more MapInfo users to consider learning how to program in MapBasic and improve their experience of MapInfo software.