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Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format is an eXtented Markup Language (XML) grammar that is targeted to present vector data on the web. This open standard has been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is seconded by many notable software groups and scientific communities around the globe.
As an XML format (text-based), SVG is platform independent and non-proprietary. SVG was designed to integrate with other Web standards efforts like XLink, XML Namespaces, DOM, CSS and XSL from the W3C. SVG graphics can use Stylesheets to control the look and feel of the image, and scripting to provide interactivity and animation. The specification also describes more complex functionality such as Filter Effects, Gradients, and Patterns.
Through the explosion of internet technologies, the demand for maps on the web has increased significantly. Many web mapping and cartographic sites include on-line appplications that generate maps on the fly using server technologies. However, most of the presented maps are of fairly low cartographic quality and very limited interaction. The arising of SVG technology breaks this lack of standardized client-side vector display. For the first time, SVG allows for high quality cartographic elements with interaction and animation, implemented using standardized programming languages and grammars.
It is required now to use a free browser plug-in from Adobe to view SVG documents. The Adobe SVG Viewer is available in many languages for Internet Explorer and Netscape on the Windows and Macintosh platforms. This plug-in also ships with the latest version of Adobe Acrobat.
To navigate in an SVG document using the Adobe SVG Viewer, use Control-Click to zoom in, Control-Shift-Click
to zoom out and Alt-Click to pan.
SVGMapMaker is a program for MapInfo professional that allows to export content to Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format. It is possible to specify options such as filter effects, color gradients, tooltips, hyperlinks, texture, opacity and info tool when exporting.
A menu is created in MapInfo Professional containing the application functions. Once the map you want to export is opened in MapInfo, you select for example the menu Export Current Map to SVG.
A dialog is then displayed to specify options for layers in this window (opacity, filter effects, tooltips, etc). This dialog also includes the file name and location of the resulting SVG document (ex: c:\temp\test.svg). When clicking OK, the program exports the map to SVG and creates the file output. The resulting document(s) can then be opened in your browser (IE or Netscape) for display.
The data published with SVGMapMaker does not contain the original geographic coordinates of the MapInfo objects. However, SVG being an open text format, users could potentially copy your vector output and use it their own graphics program.
When posting maps on the web, please ensure that your organisation has the appropriate rights to use and distribute the information in vector format.
The following is required:
- MapInfo Professional Version 5.0* or later
- 7 MB of free hard disk space
*NOTE: The use of MapInfo Professional Version 7.0 or 7.5 is recommended to optimize the text rendering.
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