INFO: Microsoft MapPoint Web Service Data Sources Update (822674)


The information in this article applies to:

  • MapPoint .NET Developer Web Services 3.0

SUMMARY

On July 27th, 2003, the Microsoft MapPoint Web Service released an update to its map data sources and an update to its point-of-interest data sources. These updates include improvements to both types of data sources. Microsoft has tried to make sure that these data source updates do not require changes to existing applications. However, changes that Microsoft made to reflect modifications in the data and to more accurately classify some features may require that you make some minor application changes. For more information about how these changes may affect existing MapPoint Web Service applications, see the "Data Source Changes That May Affect Your Application" section of this article.

The map data source update expands coverage to the Czech Republic and reflects the changes in country names. The point-of-interest data source update increases the number of metropolitan areas that are covered and provides more comprehensive data. For more information about these updates, see the "Summary of Changes" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Summary of Changes

The MapPoint Web Service data source release provides improvements in the map data sources and in the point-of-interest data sources. The MapPoint Web Service CommonServiceSoap.GetDataSourceInfo method returns an updated version string in the DataSource.Version property of the DataSource objects that are returned.

For more information about the MapPoint Web Service map data source and the MapPoint Web Service point-of-interest data source, see the following "About Data Sources in MapPoint .NET" topic in the MapPoint Web Service software development kit (SDK):

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/mpn30m/html/mpn30devWorkingWithDataSources.asp

Changes to the Map Data Sources

The map data sources contain geographic data. You can use the data sources to render maps in several different map styles and languages. The Europe maps, the North America maps, and the World maps also contain political entities and other entities such as airports, bus stations, historical sites, and parks.

The update to the map data sources includes the following enhancements:
  • The data for the MapPoint.EU data source, the MapPoint.NA data source, and the MapPoint.World data source is included.
  • The definitions for the AdminDivision1 geographic entity type and the AdminDivision2 geographic entity type are modified to reflect changes in the data. Administrative divisions of dependencies are classified as AdminDivision2s instead of AdminDivision1s.
  • Czech Republic data is now available as part of the MapPoint.EU data source. However, the Find Address API method call functionality is not supported by the MapPoint.EU data source for the Czech Republic. Detailed street coverage for Prague is provided with connecting roads, so routes through the Czech Republic (for example, from Vienna to Berlin) are improved in the MapPoint.EU data source.
  • There are additional EntityTypes populated in the MapPoint.EU data source, in the MapPoint.NA data source, and in the MapPoint.World data source. Also, there are EntityTypes that are no longer populated in the MapPoint.EU data source, in the MapPoint.NA data source, and in the MapPoint.World data source. These changes reflect modifications in the data that these data sources provide. These changes also reflect more accurate classification for some features.
  • Official names, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) codes, and friendly names are updated in the "CountryRegion Entity IDs" section of the MapPoint Web Service SDK.

Changes to the Point-of-Interest Data Sources

The point-of-interest data sources contain information about millions of businesses and organizations in several countries and regions in Europe and in North America. The data contained in these data sources is organized by Standard Industry Code (SIC). The data includes properties such as the Location property and the Contact Information property. You can use these data sources with a specific latitude and longitude coordinate to find businesses that are located in a specified distance of that coordinate. You can use the information that is returned in the results with the map data sources to find addresses, to calculate routes, and to render maps.

The update to the point-of-interest data sources includes the following enhancements:

Data Source Changes That May Affect your Application

You may have to implement the following changes in your application:
  • The friendly names and the official names of East Timor are changed. If your application uses these names, you must update your application.

    For more information about the new CountryRegion Entity IDs, visit the following Microsoft Customer Services Web site:

    https://mappoint-css.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/cscv3/MapData/mpnet_Country_Region_EntityIDs.htm

  • The official names of Comoros, Afghanistan, and Tunisia are changed. If your application uses these names, you must update your application.
  • The ISO code for Romania is changed. If your application uses this code, you must update your application.
  • The following entity types have been removed from the MapPoint.NA data source:
    • Camp
    • SpotElevation
    If your application refers to these entity types, you must update your application.

    For more information about geographic entity types, visit the following Microsoft Customer Services Web site:

    https://mappoint-css.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/cscv3/MapData/mpnet_MapPoint_XX_EntityTypes.htm

  • The following entity types have been removed from the MapPoint.EU data source:
    • Basin
    • Cave
    • School
    • SpotElevation
    If your application refers to these entity types, you must update your application.
For more information about changes that may affect your application, visit the "MapPoint Data Sources - What's New" topic at the following Microsoft Customer Services Web site:

https://mappoint-css.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/cscv3/MapData/mpnet_DataSources_WhatsNew.htm

Up-to-date documentation about the MapPoint Web Service data sources is available on the "MapPoint Data Sources and Capabilities" page of the following Microsoft Customer Services Web site:

https://mappoint-css.partners.extranet.microsoft.com/cscv3/MapData/mpnet_DataSources_Capabilities.htm

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/9/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB822674 kbAudDeveloper
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