====== Introduction to Map Suite ======

==== What can you do with Map Suite? ====
Map Suite enables you to build the most common Mapping & GIS functionality into your application.

  * [[User Interactions]]
  * [[Rendering & Visualization]]
  * [[Analysis]]
  * [[Geometric Calculations & Operations]]



==== Mapping 101 ====
An introduction to mapping that will take you from cartography to GIS to GIS software packages. These articles demonstrate how relevant GIS can be to any organization once some major concepts are understood.

  * [[What is a Map?]]
  * [[Topographic vs. Thematic Maps]]
  * [[Projection (concept)|Understanding projections]]
  * [[GIS for Mapping]]
  * [[Scale (concept)|Understanding Scale]]
  * [[Overlay (Layer) (concept)|The Concept of Overlays (Layers)]]
  * [[Data Types|Types of Map Data]]
  * [[Data Representation|How Should We Represent Data?]]
  * [[Data Acquisition|How Can We Acquire Data?]]
  * [[Data Analysis|Analyzing Data]]


==== GIS Software ====
Now that we understand the basics of mapping and GIS, we'll discuss the different categories of GIS software.  It also helps to understand how mapping components like Map Suite relate to other types of GIS software.

  * [[GIS Software Packages|End-User GIS Packages]]
  * [[Spatial DBMS]]
  * [[Mapping Services]]
  * [[GIS Libraries|Libraries]]


==== Using ThinkGeo Mapping Products ====
Learn the advantages of using ThinkGeo's mapping components versus others, while exploring the different uses for each Map Suite product according to the needs of your organization.  Within, we also explain the philosophy behind the creation of Map Suite.

  * [[Map Suite Core Architecture]]
  * [[Map Suite GIS components]]
  * [[Map Suite Desktop Edition]]
  * [[Map Suite Extensions and Add-Ons|Extensions and Add-Ons]]


==== General Mapping Tasks ====
These Quick Start Guides focus on the various tasks that are common to all editions of Map Suite GIS components.

**Adding and Representing Data on the Map**
  * [[Adding Map Data|Adding ShapeFiles, Oracle, WFS, etc.]]
  * [[Working with Zoom Levels]]
  * [[Working with Styles]]
  * [[Working with Label Styles]]
  * [[Adding Map Imagery|Adding Imagery]]
  * [[Adding GRID|Adding GRID]]
  * [[Adding Dynamic Data]]
  * [[Working with Adornments]]
  * [[Displaying World Coordinates]]
  * [[Map Suite Drawing Systems|Drawing Systems]]

**Manipulating the Map**
  * [[Geometries]]
  * [[Spatial Queries]]
  * [[Applying Projections]]
  * [[Rotating the Map]]
  * [[Editing Layers]]
  * [[Working with the Database]]


==== Map Suite Edition-Specific Tasks ====
Here, we look at some tasks and issues that are specific to the different editions of Map Suite.

  * [[Map Suite Desktop Edition Specific Tasks|Map Suite Desktop Edition]]
  * [[Map Suite Wpf Desktop Edition Specific Tasks|Map Suite WFP Edition]]
  * [[Map Suite Web Edition Specific Tasks|Map Suite Web Edition]]
  * [[Map Suite Silverlight Edition Specific Tasks|Map Suite Silverlight Edition]]
  * [[Map Suite Services Edition Specific Tasks|Map Suite Services Edition]]

==== Extending Map Suite ====
This programming-oriented section explores one of the major strengths of Map Suite: its flexibility.

  * [[Understanding Inheritance]]
  * [[Inheriting from FeatureSource]]
  * [[Inheriting Own Style]]


==== API Guide ====
In this section we'll explore the powerful and easy-to-use API of Map Suite.

  * [[How to Read the API Class Diagram]]
  * [[Map Suite Core API]]
  * [[Map Suite Desktop Edition API]]
  * [[Map Suite Web Edition API]]
  * [[Map Suite Silverlight Edition API]]


==== Using Map Suite Extensions ====
These Quick Start Guides will show you how to integrate Map Suite extensions into the map products.

  * [[Map Suite World Map Kit]]
  * [[Map Suite Geocoder]]
  * [[Map Suite Router]]


==== Using Map Suite in Specific Industries ====
Here, we'll look at some specific industries and show how Map Suite can be of benefit.

  * [[Using Map Suite in Specific Industries#Real Estate|Real Estate]]
  * [[Using Map Suite in Agriculture|Agriculture]]
  * [[Using Map Suite in Specific Industries#GPS Tracking|GPS Tracking]]
  * [[Using Map Suite in Specific Industries#Law Enforcement|Law Enforcement]]
  * [[Using Map Suite in Specific Industries#Aviation|Aviation]]
  * [[Using Map Suite in Specific Industries#Utilities|Utilities]]

==== The Future of Map Suite ====
Take a look at some of the new projects and products we've got planned for the future of Map Suite.

  * [[Map Suite Data Types]]
  * [[Map Suite in the Cloud]]
  * [[Map Suite Script Language]]
  * [[Map Suite Explorer]]
  * [[Upcoming Map Suite Extensions]]