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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 MVC Edition .NET GIS control. If you still have questions after reading these, feel free to post them in our MVC Edition 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 MVC Edition and Map Suite Web Edition? If I want to create a web-based GIS application, which edition should I pick? ====

Map Suite MVC Edition is based on the Model-View-Controller architecture, whereas Map Suite Web Edition uses traditional a WebForms model. Using Map Suite MVC Edition offers you the following advantages:

Gives you full control over your page presentation via HTML and CSS
Easier and quicker to target mobile and touch-based devices like the Apple iPad, iPhone or Android devices
Allows you to easily integrate third-party JavaScript libraries such as jQuery
Offers faster performance and simpler coding in numerous scenarios
Enables much greater automated unit tests
Better suited to multi-developer environments where several programmers can work on different parts of the same page
We typically recommend Map Suite MVC Edition over Map Suite Web Edition for most modern web applications. However, there are situations where Map Suite Web Edition's traditional WebForms model will be more advantageous to you — for instance, if you are porting a desktop-based Winforms application to a web environment, or if you don't need or want to worry about HTML and CSS and instead prefer to let the control handle presentation for you.

If you still have questions about which edition of Map Suite would best suit you, feel free to post in our Map Suite MVC Edition discussion forum or give us a call.

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

Yes, absolutely. In fact, with Map Suite MVC Edition, you'll have even more control over the presentation aspect of your map control than you would with a traditional Webforms map control, with full ability to customize the HTML and CSS generated. For the map itself, 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.

==== Can I use Map Suite MVC Edition to make an application for mobile devices like the iPad or an Android tablet? ====

Yes. In fact, Map Suite MVC Edition is the ideal Map Suite product to use if you're targeting mobile devices. MVC Edition lets you design web-based applications that can be accessed by any mobile device with an Internet connection, such as a phone or tablet. Because the MVC architecture gives you total control over your application's presentation layer and user interface, you can develop touch-friendly interfaces targeted for mobile devices without Map Suite getting in your way. Plus, maps generated by the Map Suite MVC Edition control contain built-in touch support for zooming, panning, selecting markers, drawing shapes and more. Let Map Suite provide the rich interactive maps — you decide the best way to present them!

Please note that Map Suite MVC Edition does not create "packaged" applications for deployment to managed platforms like the Apple App Store or Android Market. Applications you build with Map Suite are designed to be accessed by the web browser on your mobile device, and used in an online environment where an Internet connection is available.

==== What other software is required to work with Map Suite MVC Edition? ====

To create web-based map applications with Map Suite MVC Edition, you will need a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio, or alternatively, Visual Studio Express for Web to build the code for your custom application. Map Suite MVC Edition also requires ASP.NET MVC version 2 or higher.

==== Does Map Suite MVC Edition require any third party controls to be downloaded and installed on the client browser? ====

No. Map Suite MVC Edition utilizes JavaScript to handle all browser-side operations, so users will not need to download Flash, Silverlight, or any ActiveX controls.

==== What type of map data does Map Suite MVC Edition Support? ====

Map Suite MVC Edition lets you use virtually any map dataset of your choosing. If you have your own map data, you can utilize it. Alternatively, you can utilize our Map Suite World Map Kit, Google Maps*, or Bing 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 MVC Edition comes with native support for the most popular vector and raster file formats including Shapefile and TAB, 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 MVC Edition? ====

Map Suite MVC Edition was designed to be easy to understand and easy to use. While mapping and 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 MVC Edition? ====

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

==== 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.

I've purchased Map Suite MVC Edition and I'm seeing an "Unlicensed for Runtime" watermark on the map after I deploy my web application to IIS. How can I get rid of this watermark?
You are seeing this message because the Production Web Server license is not installed on your server. There are two kinds of licenses for Map Suite MVC Edition:

The Developer License is for a development environment. It allows you to develop your application within Visual Studio.
The Production Server License is for a production environment. It removes the "Unlicensed" watermark in runtime.
To install the Production Server License, you need to run the Server Preparation Tool that can be downloaded through the ThinkGeo Product Center.

If you do not see the Server Preparation Tool in ThinkGeo Product Center, you likely have not purchased any Production Server Licenses. You can purchase a Production Server License from ThinkGeo's online store. If you have purchased a Production Server License but cannot find the Server Preparation Tool, or need other assistance regarding licensing, feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to help.
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