Datamine Discover KB - MapInfo Pro

Is MapInfo SQL and Expression case sensitive?

kbadmin — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 03:43:33 GMT

For char or string fields, MapInfo expressions and SQL statements are NOT case sensitive.

For example if a cell value was "Test" then if the expression was Value = "test" it would return true.

How do I add more WMTS or XYZ Tileserver layers in MapInfo?

kbadmin — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:55:56 GMT

Occurrence

In QGIS or ArcGIS you can link XYZ Tile Server (also known as WMTS) web layer to add more Base Maps, such as OpenStreetMaps.org. It is also used by many webmap providers such as Google Maps and Mapbox.

MapInfo Pro has the same Base Maps layer such as Bing aerial and Precisely, but how can I add more?

Solution

You can create your own TAB and XML files based on the examples in C:\Program Files\MapInfo\Professional\TileServer. OSM_Roads is the OpenStreeMap XYZ Tileserver example (that is no longer published in the Mapinfo menu).

In Discover 2021 a new tool was added to help you create your own Tileserver tab files.

To do this go to Discover>Import>XYZ Base maps

The URLs can be found by searching the internet for "XYZ Tile servers" and you will find source such as this -

https://www.spatialbias.com/2018/02/qgis-3.0-xyz-tile-layers/

https://www.hatarilabs.com/ih-en/how-to-add-a-google-map-in-qgis-3-tutorial

Note While this is technically possible, you should make sure to check the terms and conditions for the website regarding using their map tiles i.e. : Solution

The MIG grid (MapInfo Continuous Grid) is primarily used for the MapInfo Professional's Thematic Grids. It is not recommended to use this grid format for gridded data.

Surface grids open in MapInfo Professional with Discover can be modified in two ways, either -

1) Discover>Surfaces>Colour Grid

2) Map>Modify Thematic Map>Styles

These two methods are only compatible to a limited degree, and some options, such as Sun-shading / Relief-shading are not compatible.

If you open a MIG grid which has been created without Discover, it may appear slightly different.

If you wish to ensure the MIG grid will appear the same without Discover installed, you should use the Modify Thematic option.

How do I calculate the bearing of a line?

kbadmin — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 04:31:28 GMT

Occurrence

The MapInfo Ruler tool does not give a bearing angle!

How do I calculate the bearing of a line, or between two points?

Solution

To calculate a bearing interactively with a ruler tool, use Discover's

QUERY>Map Object>Location Info

Or to calculate a selected lines bearing and saved in as a attribute use -

QUERY>Map Object>Line Orientation

These 2 Discover tools both create a line Bearing, clockwise from North.

If you have MapInfo MapCAD Loaded, this adds a tool under -

SPATIAL>Calculate>Calculate Direction

This is incorrect. It calculates a mathematical standard cartesian angle, which is counter clockwise from the right hand direction (East).

To convert this into a GIS bearing, which is clockwise from North (top of map) you need to apply the following -

degResult = 90.0 - mathBasedDeg;

How do I query and seperate the vector object types (e.g. point, polyline, polygon) in a layer?

kbadmin — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:45:13 GMT

Occurrence

MapInfo tab files can contain different object types. When exporting to ESRI ArcGIS Shape files, this will fail as they can only contain 1 type of object. So you need to split the files based on the object type.

Solution

You can use Discover's Query>Text>Split by Attribute. Then select the field obj. This is a hidden field you don't normally see in Mapinfo, which contains the object type.

Hit OK and it will save to separate tables.

You may also wish to display this information in the Browser view -

1) Open a new browser for the vector layer
2) Right click in the browser and select Pick Fields
3) From the Fields list, select Expression..
4) In the Expression Window select from the Columns drop-down list 'obj'
5) OK and close the Pick Fields dialog.

There will be a new column displayed in the browser that describes the object type for each row/object. You can filter or query to browser and table also on this field name.

How can I change the draw order of overlapping objects?

kbadmin — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 06:48:57 GMT

Occurrence

If you have overlapping points, line and polygons in a table. Sometimes the objects are hidden underneath a polygon that covers the area. How can I change the draw order?

Solution

There is a workaround documented here -

https://community.precisely.com/discussion/mapinfo-monday-how-can-i-control-the-drawing-order-of-a-layer

How can I save a thematic layer permanently in the embedded map styles?

kbadmin — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 05:45:03 GMT

Occurrence

Thematic layers are only saved in the workspace. You can also save as a default view in the metadata, but this is still dynamically applied and may change as data changes and will not be included in exported files. They have some other disadvantages too, such as a size limit and are slow to load on large data.

How can I save as embedded map styles which overcome these limitations?

Solution

In the Discover tool Project>Setup>Picklist Manager. If you click Configure>Create picklist from dataset. This gives an option to create a picklist from a thematic layer. This picklist can then be applied use the Project>Apply>Picklist Styles to a layer and will be save as embedded map object styles.

Note that this will only work for individual character/string based thematics.

You can also use the attached tool was is from the MapBasic SDK samples.

How do I update a thematic layer with new data changes?

kbadmin — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:31:28 GMT

Occurrence

I have a thematic layer saved in a workspace. The data in the source table has been update and changed. But these changes do not appear in the histogram colour ranges, or when I go to Theme>Modify>Styles.

Solution

To update a numeric ranges or individual value thematic -

1. Select the Thematic layer in the Explorer window

2. Go to the menu Theme>Recalculate Theme.

How do I calculate the area of polygons or length of polylines in my table?

kbadmin — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 02:24:54 GMT

Occurrence

I want to calculate the area for each polygon region in my table.

Solution

In MapInfo Pro, simply double left click on any Region/Polygon, Polyline or Point object to see its area, length, and coordinates.

To add the area/length to a column -

1.Open the Table and navigate to TABLE>Table>Modify Structure and add a field called Area of type Float.
2. Then navigate to TABLE>Update Column.
3. Select the Table as both the Table to Update and Table to get value from. Select the Area as the column to update.
4. Click the Assist button. Select SphericalArea or SphericalObjectLen from the Function list and click OK. You can also use CartesianArea or Ca ...

Tips and Tricks in the 64-bit environment: MapInfo Discover

Josh Knight — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 04:14:08 GMT

Some tips to making the most of the new 64-bit environment and capabilities, particularly of MapInfo Pro. This new user interface ("64bit") version was first released by Pitney Bowes in 2014, MapInfo Pro 12.5. Pitney Bowes then released a compatible Discover add in version in 2015. The Discover addin (not MapInfo Pro) was sold to Datamine in 2017.

The major change in 64bit, apart from the new user interface and raster menu, is the Layouts have changed. since 2012 in 32bit, there has been a "Layout Designer" window. This is now the "Layout" window and old layouts are not there. any workspace containing an old layout, is automatically converted to a layout designer new layout window.

Once you have installed the 64bit version, it is not recommended or supported to use or install the previous 32bit versions, as there are conflict when opening Excel or Access files, and some tables and workspaces created 64bit will not be openable in 32bit.

1. I can't find my favourite/essential tools!!

Try typing the name or ap ...

Uninstalling/Reinstalling or Upgrading MapInfo Discover - Settings and Licensing

kbadmin — Mon, 11 May 2020 03:47:07 GMT

Occurrence

If I uninstall or upgrade the MapInfo Discover Standalone or Bundle, will I lose my license or my drillhole project and other configuration files?

Or I am transferring to a new computer - what folders should I backup and transfer to maintain my settings and customisations?

Solution

Discover

Licenses

See the related articles on transferring or returning a license to a different computer.

When MapInfo Discover is uninstalled the license is preserved on that computer (i.e. the license is unaffected by a MapInfo Discover uninstall). Upon reinstalling MapInfo Discover a new activation code is not required.

When I digitize in the map window, it snaps back to a vertical or horizontal line along an invisible edge

Josh Knight — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:56:31 GMT

Occurrence

When you try to digitize or draw an object in a layer, it is snapping back to a straight line along an invisible edge. Or certain tools may produce output like this with data following an invisible boundary box.

Solution

This is caused when a table has explicit bounds (typically non-earth projections, as these always have explicit bounds on the table).

To increase the bounds, go to HOME>Tool Extensions>Registered there is the CoordSys Bounds Manager tool. This allows you to automatically increase the bounds by a buffer precentage, to give more room to digitize outside the existing data.

Simply open this tool, then click Optimize CoordSys Bounds. Then click Save Table As.. with Coord ...

Save Copy Error - Cannot write database row. Possibly out of disk space.

kbadmin — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 06:56:47 GMT
Occurrence

I have opened a database (either Directly open Access/Excel, or via ODBC) table in MapInfo. I am trying to use File>Save Copy As and receiver the error -
"Cannot write database row. Possibly out of disk space. Operation cancelled."

Solution

The default native TAB file format has a limitation on the total byte size of the fields/columns added up, also the data file size could not exceeded 2GB.

A new version of the TA file was introduced that has no limit of the number of fields. This is called MapInfo Extended (*.tab). Change the file type in the save as dialog to MapInfo Extended to overcome the error.

See also the MapInfo KB article
https://support.pitneybowes.com/VFP06_KnowledgeWithSidebarTroubleshoot?id=kA2800000004MRFCA2&popup=false&lang=en_US

Note that this type of TAB file is not supported in some Discover tools, and other 3rd party software.

MapInfo Pro is crashing on opening

kbadmin — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:41:13 GMT
Occurrence

When starting MapInfo Discover bundle, I see the splash loading screens, but then it crashes.

Solution

This is usually caused by corrupted settings or 3rd party tools in the tool manager.

To resolve this, delete the folder -
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\MapInfo\MapInfo\Professional\1700

Where USERNAME is your windows user name, and 1700 is the MapInfo version, i.e. MapInfo 17.0 is 1700, MapInfo 16.0 is 1600.

Delete the file -
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\MapInfo\MapInfo\preferences.xml

Then navigate to the start menu and search for "regedit". Open the ...

Is there a free viewer for my MapInfo Professional maps?

kbadmin — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 07:01:10 GMT

MapInfo retired the standalone 32bit Viewer.
Starting with MapInfo Po 17.0.2 64bit, there is a new viewer mode. Simply download and install the full MapInfo Pro 17.0.2 or later, and it will run in viewer mode if you are not licensed.
The download is avaible here -
https://support.precisely.com/product-downloads/
Note this will not open legacy Discover surfaces coloured grids. You will need to use SURFACES>Toggle Grid to convert them into Raster colour metadata first (they do not need to be converted to MRR).
More details are here
https://community.pitneybowes.com/blogs/james-stone/2018/12/06/unpacking-mapinfo-pro-v1702

TAB files created in MapInfo Pro 64-bit cannot be opened into 3rd-party applications.

Josh Knight — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 00:18:37 GMT
Issue

TAB files created in the latest 64-bit version of MapInfo Pro cannot be opened by 3rd party applications, such as Leapfrog Geo. They may also not be supported (in rare cases) in 32-bit Mapinfo Pro 15.0.

Solution

There are a number of enhancements to the TAB file format, which may not be backwards compatible with 3rd party programs.

For advanced users:

The following Mapbasic statement (typed into the MapBasic window) will save a table with a backwards compatible blocksize (512) and charset (WindowsLatin1), and as a standard NATIVE (non-unicode, whereas the new NATIVEX is unicode).

How do I populate a field with a series of random numbers?

Josh Knight — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:13:03 GMT
To populate a numeric field (i.e. Float, Decimal or Integer type) with random numbers (e.g. values between 0 and 100), use the Table> Update Column tool (ensure that the table is editable i.e. in a native MapInfo format)).

Set the target table in the Table to Update area, and the target field in the Column to Update area.

In the Value area, enter rnd(1) - this will generate a decimal fraction (i.e. values between 0 and 1).

This can be modified to create more specific ranges:

rnd(1) * 100 - creates values between 0 and 100
rnd(1) * 10 +10 - creates values between 10 and 20

How do I display the cartographic scale of a map window?

Josh Knight — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:29:23 GMT

Solution

The scale of the current map window can be displayed in an info area at the bottom left corner of the
MapInfo window:

If this is displaying co-ordinates or a zoom width, right-click on the info area and choose Map Scale:

By default MapInfo presents the Map Scale as above (e.g. 1cm = 0.25km). To change this to a
cartographic scale (e.g. 1: 25000), open the Options>Preferences menu option, and select the Map
Window button. In the following dialog, enable the 'Use Cartographic Scale' option.