I think that the collection of region styles are much to limited and would like to be able to import more region styles from other sources. I also think that it would be very useful to have a tool, built into the software, in which it is possible to design your own region styles, and subsequently add them to the region style library. In our company, we have a standard for which patterns should be used for different rocktypes. This standard cannot be used in MapInfo, since there is no way of modifying the region style library.

Furthermore, I would like to have the option of scaling the pattern in a region style with the current zoom level, so that the symbols does not become huge when you zoom out.

Frequently I find that when I start MapInfo Professional/Encom Discover my toolbars have moved from my preferred locations (docked at the top and side) and are all stacked below each other docked at the top of the screen. I also find that the toolbars are moved or dragged from their docked position if I am quickly clicking on a tool and hold the mouse button down a fraction too long. It would be very helpful to have the ability to lock these toolbars in place so they don't do this.

Blue Marble Geographic is inadequate.
GARMIN software limited import file type options

*when transferring points it assigns its own label identifiers
*it selects default symbols
*it requires data to be transformed to a Lat Long coordinate system

Mapinfo should develop its own interface (I currently use a 3rd party GPS software programme). Perhaps this would help retain assigned labels when transferring points to GARMIN handheld, and maybe overcome creating multiple format files and grids.

When Opening files within MapInfo it uses the old Microsoft drop down dialoge (shown below); This is outdated and frustrating (especially when working with large amounts of files) due to its inabilty to search with file addresses/favourites/libraries and its habit of defulting to My Document screen.



It would be a relief this dialog was switched to the modern explorer style (seen below) for the Open and Save As Dialogs.



Thanks, Keith

Creating grids with Discover is fine, except when you have a bunch of fields to grid from the one table.  If most settings can remain the same, except the input column, and the output filename, then why not provide the capability to make this a breeze? 

Even without a multi-parameter grid funtion, it would be nice if the existing dialog box simply stayed-open after creating a grid, rather than disappearing and requiring the user to re-create many of the settings (e.g. Clipping).

Marty

I am using Discover more often directly during geological field mapping on a tablet computer with a GPS.  I would like to be able create structural symbols on the fly as I type in the data for a mapping station.  Currently I have to go through a process to generate the symbol.  I would like an option that would create the symbol automatically as I enter the data for each record.  It would also be good if symbols for different structure types (bedding, cleavage, lineation etc) could be automatically drawn slightly separated from each other so they don't overlap - this would be calculated basd on an enterd scale of mapping.  The raw coordinates could also be adjusted.

When creating a grid it would be handy to be able to set the "clip" region before generating the grid.

Often the data isn't a perfect recctangle, but the data is still interpolated across gaps or corners. It would be good to be able to clip the grid to a region / table at this point, in the wizard, rather than to have to do it later (in grid utilities) as the end result may be different.

We can clip to buffer, concave & convex hulls, but not to a MapInfo object.

Posted on behalf of Joanna @ Maxwell Geosciences:

"Ability to create contour regions, not just polylines when contouring from the Surfaces menu. Similar in the way that Vertical Mapper does. "

Alex Zdziarski
Product Manager
PBS

Hi
I have lost things I have added to a pick-list because it does not auto save and does not offer to save until you change lists.  I have lost things when i quit Mapinfo without having remembered to save the pick-list changes and have not changed lists.  I would like any entries added to be auto saved.

Is it possible to Set Up the data entry table - then got straight to Data entry from the same UI - instead of closing this Set Up UI and then going back to the menu to choose Data Entry. 

Other improvements to the Data Entru UI have been mentioned - these are good ideas, as it all a bit lcunky & slow to enter data compared to DigData method.

Currently a map that contains transparencies and printed to pdf will have enhanced rendering. This will make text in the final pdf unselectable.

It has been suggested to us to combat this problem that we revert to using hashed and stippled polygons. This is not our preference.

Please improve the transparency function so that it does not effect the way text is treated in the print to pdf process.

I have down hole lithology trace shades in discover 3D that I would also like to label with the lith code or other downhole parameters.  At the moment this is not possible.

When adding / editing data in a browser window from an ODBC linked table it would be nice if the browser honoured the SQL foreign keys and constrains at the point of entry.
i.e only allowing you to enter valid data rather than allowing you to enter anything and then failing when you try to commit the changes to the database.
 
It would be awesome if a field with a foreign key displayed a picklist ( from the foreign key ) at the point of data entry.

A growing number of people are using ipad and more especially Android operating systems on tablets for data collection in the field. Are we going to get a compatible version of MapInfo (and hopefully Discover) for these OSs? We need to be able to add/edit objects and data directly in the filed, like MapX Mobile, rather than just visualise maps and data.

Windows 8 will obviously also come into this group if and when Windows tablets become more robust and common, but many businesses are particularly finding the Nexus (Google) device is great for the field. 

Cheers

Our company wishes to preserve and protect our precious mapping data into the future. We see the value in being able to easily retrieve data, as well as managing the risks associated with altering file names. For this reason we have applied restrictions on which members of our staff can write to our dedicated mapping drive. However, we also have staff members who we wish to be able to open, view and copy/package workspaces and table files to unrestricted drives for editing.
 
In the past, with previous versions of MapInfo/Discover, there has not been an issue with opening workspaces. However, now, we are finding that a workspace saved and closed with an editable layer cannot be opened completely by a staff member without write permission. The workspace attempts to write a temporary file next to the editable table file, fails due to write access restrictions and then fails to execute the following lines in the .wor file.
 
Could PBBI look into providing a solution to this issue, possibly in the form of a patch for the software? As you know preserving the integrity of table files that may be used in several different workspaces is essential, so ensuring they are protected is a must for small business while still allowing access to view and copy these files by different staff members is also necessary. I am sure that other users would have come up against this issue?

I would like to have more flexibility in colouring polygon objects in a feature database.  Currently they all have to be the same colour.  I am working with open pit wall  polygons for geotech rock mass parameters.  I would like to be able to colour the polygons by parameter (either thematically or otherwise).  If thematic colouring is not possible I would like more flexibility in colouring polygons within the FDB.

I would like a warning box to come up when closing a window.  Often I have closed a window I didn't mean to close with no way of getting it back if I haven't saved a workspace recently.  Perhaps the functionality could be optional so as not to annoy people who don't want it.

I noticed that DigData Menu is put under Replaced utilities, I hope you will not remove it in the next update because I did not like using the new Data Entry utility. I liked that 'Style picklist...' and the 'Set up table' seems intuitive but when I tried entering new data I had some problems that I think is such a pain when I needed to enter new data in a hurry. First of all, I did not like that there is a big window showing all data. It takes space in my screen and I had to postion the window before starting my digitizing. Of course I can resize the window but I think when I wanted to browse my data, I will open a browser. Then I tried to add new data. But I realized that I have to click inside the box of the new entry to be able to edit the attribute. Combine that with seeing the other rows of data, I had difficulty clicking the correct box before I can start typing. It is an added step I did not need and it wastes time. Example is when I need to digitize huge number of point data, in DigData all I have to do is click (to put/draw the point) then enter the attribute (it's very easy). I understand that using the new data entry utility you can set up more than 10 columns but I think if I needed to enter more than 10 columns I will do that in a database that I then open in MapInfo then combine/update my table using a query or multiple column update in Discover. I liked that (in the new utility) we can use tab and arrow keys  to move between cells and that there is a validate button. I will still try to explore and try this new utility to test it's use/s for my needs. I think that this new Data Entry utility looks nice but I will still use the DigData menu because it's more helpful. Thank you very much.

Just thinking, the enhanced layer is always a separate window - is it possible to dock it like the MI Pro layer and Table list windows?