You can consume maps from the World Map Kit Online using a website (or a web-based application) or a Windows desktop application. If you are using a website, the process is fairly simple: You simply register the domain name of your website, and ThinkGeo takes care of the authentication transparently.
Desktop applications are only slightly more complicated. In a desktop environment, you will need to connect to the World Map Kit Online using a Client ID / Private Key pair. This is simply a set of credentials that you'll be given when you purchase access to the World Map Kit Online. Our full line of Map Suite developer controls from version 3.0 and onward support this type of connection natively. However, if you are developing your desktop application using other GIS software, support for Signed URLs depends on the manufacturer of that software.
If you'd like to know more about the Client ID / Private Key system and how to connect your desktop application to the World Map Kit Online, simply post your questions in our World Map Kit Support Forum and our professional support team will do their best to answer them for you.
The World Map Kit differs from our standalone data products in both accuracy and design. Countless hours have been spent developing the rendering logic for each zoom level, optimizing the map dataset, and making sure the best cartography is used to produce the most attractive map possible. Additionally, the World Map Kit Online is based on the most up-to-date data sourced from GIS bureaus around the world. Lastly, the World Map Kit Online is fully hosted by ThinkGeo, meaning you'll never need to worry about installing or maintaining your own web server hardware. These factors all combine to make the World Map Kit a huge value.
Map Suite World Map Kit uses a variety of publicly available map datasets from around the world and combines them into a comprehensive kit with global coverage. You can browse, pan and zoom into the actual maps you'll have access to in real-time at our free online demo.
No. In order to customize and extend the maps contained in the World Map Kit, you would need to purchase the World Map Kit SDK instead of the World Map Kit Online. The World Map Kit SDK is designed to be used in concert with one of our Map Suite GIS software components, such as Map Suite Desktop Edition or Web Edition, and comes with fully customizable source code.
After you use the World Map Kit SDK to customize your maps, you will either need to distribute the complete map dataset along with your client application, or purchase Map Suite WMS Server Edition to set up your own web-based map server that can be consumed over the Internet.
Each edition of the World Map Kit includes the same complete set of world map data and professional design logic that makes your maps look great. The difference lies in the intended use for each product. Let's break it down: