CDATA96 Hints and Tips

CDATA96 Training and calls to our Census Technical Helpline have highlighted the fact that users are always keen to learn more and gain added benefit from CDATA96. With this in mind we have chosen a selection of hints and tips that we think you will find useful.

MapInfo has some handy tools to manipulate data and maps after retrieving the data and boundaries from the CDATA96 interface.

1. From the menu bar select - File > Run MapBasic Program

2. This shows the c:\MapInfo\Tools directory. The *.mbx files displayed are different tools.

Legends.mbx - Embed the legend within the map window (handy for transferring maps as a bitmap image)
Labeller.mbx - This is used to transfer labels from the boundary layer to the cosmetic layer so it can be saved.

These are just 2 of 22 tools available - look through to see if any others would be useful.

3. Once the MapBasic program has been run it adds a new item to the menu bar called Tools. Simply select Tools from the menu bar and then the item required and follow the prompts.

Having trouble installing CDATA96 or other Census electronic product?

CDATA96 (or other Census electronic products) may not install correctly if any 'Terminate & Stay Resident' (TSRs) products (eg. virus detectors, Microsoft Office) are contained within your start-up folder. To ensure that CDATA96 installs correctly please follow one of the following options:

EITHER
Remove CDATA96 through the add\remove programs functionality. Reboot the PC. Once the Window95 banner screen has been displayed for a few seconds depress the LEFT shift button and hold it down till Window 95 has completed loading. Install CDATA96 and reboot the PC again. This will load any products normally loaded automatically on your PC.

OR
Remove CDATA96 through the add\remove programs functionality. Then remove any TSR product icons from your startup folder, by using click and drag function drop them into another folder and reboot the PC. Once you have successfully installed CDATA96 you may click and drag your TSR product icons back into the startup folder and reboot the PC, this will load any products normally loaded automatically on your PC.

How to get the longitude and latitude of a boundary, symbol or object?

1. From the menu bar select Query > SQL Select
2. In the from Tables box (using the Tables dropbox) select the table with the objects, boundaries, symbols etc
3. In the Select Columns box, select the * and hit the delete button. From the Columns dropbox choose the name (ie:SLA_name) and the number (SLA_ID - if applicable).
4. From the Functions dropbox select CentroidX and CentroidY (Still within the Select Columns box)
5. Select Verify - if "Syntax is correct" then hit OK and OK at the SQL select box.
6. This will create a Query X with the Name and number of the objects and the CentroidX (Lon) and CentroidY (Lat) of the object.

The ABS is keen for clients to get maximum benefit out of CDATA96 and we plan to include more helpful hints and tips in future issues. If you have any queries in relation to the above hints and tips or any CDATA96 technical enquiries please call our Census Technical Helpline on 1800 676 646.