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====== Frequently Asked Questions ======

Here are answers to some of the most common questions that we are asked about the Map Suite Desktop for Wpf .NET GIS control. If you still have questions after reading these, feel free to post them in our Map Suite Desktop for Wpf discussion forum. Our forums are monitored by our development staff in order to provide detailed and technical answers when you need them.

==== What is the difference between Map Suite Desktop for Wpf and Map Suite Desktop for WinForms? ====

Map Suite Desktop for WinForms is primarily designed for Windows Forms development. Although Map Suite Desktop for WinForms comes with both a WinForms and WPF map control, its WPF control is built on the same codebase as the WinForms control and thus doesn't take advantage of many of the new technologies being offered by WPF.

In contrast, Map Suite Desktop for Wpf includes a natively-designed WPF control for GIS. This new control has been redesigned from the ground-up to leverage many of the advantages of WPF, including direct canvas drawing, multi-threaded drawing, transitions during panning and zooming, and much more. If you want to build a WPF application with Map Suite, then Map Suite Desktop for Wpf will deliver a broader range of features and capabilities.

It should be noted that both the standard WinForms Desktop Edition and the new Map Suite Desktop for Wpf support the same framework of GIS core features, including renderers, track shapes, geometric functions, data format support, and so forth.

==== Do I have control over how the map looks and fits into my application? ====

Yes, absolutely. Map Suite Desktop for Wpf is a control, so you can easily integrate it into your application just like any other control from the Toolbox. We expose a large amount of APIs that allow you to customize every aspect of the map and the user interface so that they fit in with the look and feel of your application.

==== What other software is required to work with Map Suite Desktop for Wpf? ====

To work with Map Suite Desktop for Wpf, you will need a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio, or alternatively, Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop to build the code for your custom application.

==== What type of map data does Map Suite Desktop for Wpf Support? ====

Map Suite Desktop for Wpf lets you use virtually any map dataset of your choosing. If you have your own map data you can use it, or you can utilize our Map Suite World Map Kit extension or other base maps like Google Maps*, just to name a few options.

*Use of Google Maps within a Map Suite developer SDK requires a Google Maps API For Business license and is subject to Google's licensing terms. For more information, please visit: https://developers.google.com/maps/licensing

==== What formats can my data be in? ====

Map Suite Desktop for Wpf comes with native support for the most popular vector and raster file formats, and includes a free extension that enables support for more than a dozen more vector formats and more than 80 raster formats. If you have spatial data or imagery, chances are you can use it with Map Suite. Check our wiki for the master list of data formats that Map Suite currently supports.

==== How big of a learning curve is there to using Map Suite Desktop for Wpf? ====

Map Suite Desktop for Wpf was designed to be easy to understand and easy to use. While mapping/GIS controls typically have a larger learning curve than other simpler controls like grids or charts, we feel Map Suite has taken the complexity out of mapping and allows you to develop your application in days or weeks instead of months or years.

==== Where do I go if I need help with Map Suite Desktop for Wpf? ====

We have a very active Developer Community discussion forum, a large number of "How Do I?" sample applications with source code in VB.NET and C#, and we also offer professional services if you need to talk with a developer one-on-one.

==== What is the difference between Map Suite Desktop for Wpf and Map Suite Services Edition? ====

Map Suite Desktop for Wpf comes with built-in functionality to construct a robust user interface in a desktop environment, while the Services Edition is designed for back-end applications like web services, Windows services and console applications where no user interface elements are needed.

==== Are there add-ons or extensions for Map Suite that add new features? ====

Yes. We offer a number of Map Suite add-ons that extend the functionality and map coverage of your application, including the World Map Kit SDK and the Routing extension that generates routes, turn-by-turn directions and more. Additionally, check out the code samples on the ThinkGeo Wiki for an ever-expanding number of add-on projects that bring new features and ideas to your Map Suite projects.

==== How to create/retreive/update/delete features with Map Suite Desktop for Wpf? ====
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