Dotted Eyes News

CAD users can now access spatial data without the need to convert GIS information to DWG,  using AutoCAD Map 3D. This frees up GIS staff resources, as they no longer need to translate data, and allows CAD and GIS teams to share the same core data sets.

Until April 15th,  Local Government users can upgrade from AutoCAD LT to Map 3D with Subs and save 30%.For more information, call the Commercial Team on 01527 556920 or email us.

We will be co-hosting the 2009 UK FME User Group, to be held at Ordnance Survey’s Southampton head office on April 1st 2009.

The event will build on the success of last year’s inaugural user group, when over fifty delegates heard case studies from FME users across the UK. Don Murray, Co-founder and President of Safe Software, will once again lead the sessions, having received a rapturous welcome in 2008.

Don comments, “With the great success of last year’s UK FME User Group, I’m looking forward to being part of this year’s expanded event. I always enjoy meeting our users, both learning about the great challenges they are solving and receiving feedback on the ways we can make our product even better.”

The agenda will be packed with both informative and interactive sessions, including an under the bonnet look at FME 2009 and beyond, FME best practices, tips and tricks, user case studies and an opportunity to network with other FME users.

Both existing FME users, and those interested in using FME’s market leading translation, transformation and integration capabilities, will be made most welcome by Safe, Dotted Eyes and four other participating FME partners.

This year’s user group will be preceded by two days of intensive complimentary training on FME Server, delivered by Safe Software’s own trainers. Training places are strictly limited, and delegates should apply to the Commercial Team to enquire about availability.

Visit our FME user group page to register for the user group by the 12th March 2009. If you require more information, please call our Commercial Team on 01527 556920.

This one day seminar for councils and NHS organisations, hosted by Dotted Eyes in conjunction with Autodesk, will help attendees maximise their return on investment in CAD software. Autodesk will outline a user case study on behalf of a local council, showcasing how AutoCAD Map 3D brings together design and geographic information, and Dotted Eyes will present on key issues such as configuration, optimisation of data storage and future proofing.

For more information, view the attached seminar invitation.

Two Dotted Eyes data sets, InterestMap and MarkerMap, have been chosen by Communities and Local Government for inclusion in the Pan-Government Agreement. The products, which were part of a successful bid placed by Exeter-based Landmark Information Group, in conjunction with Dotted Eyes, will be available under the Agreement from 1st April 2009.

Dotted Eyes Chairman Jamie Justham comments: “We’re delighted that the British Government has selected Dotted Eyes products as part of the Pan-Government Agreement. This decision cements our reputation for adding value to the high quality datasets produced by Ordnance Survey, a standing strengthened in 2008 by the award of a major agreement to supply digital maps to the NHS in England and Wales. ”

For more information, visit our PGA2b web pages.

MapInfo today released an upgrade for MapInfo Professional 9.5.

9.5 users can update their software by clicking on Help > Check for Update from within MapInfo Professional.

9.5.1 is a major, yet free, patch release. It brings improved display capabilities, such as a translucency feature which allows you to see through a thematic map to the base map below. Labels can also be set at various levels of translucency and anti-aliasing can now be applied to them to smooth the text edges.

9.5.1 also addresses problems experienced when printing, especially to PDF.

Tom Probert from Pitney Bowes MapInfo is running a one hour webinar on 11th December 2008 from 10AM to introduce the new features in MapInfo Professional 9.5.1 and Vertical Mapper 3.5.

You can register online at https://mapinfoevents.webex.com/mapinfoevents/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=669011131

Don’t forget to check our other news items for information about MapInfo special offers in the run up to Christmas, or call our Commercial Team on 01527 556920.

This offer applies to local authorities, PCTs, SHAs and housing associations only. It is split into 2 parts: existing VLP customers and new VLP customers:

Existing VLP customers:

Until December 19th 2008, organisations can add 4 MapInfo Pro licences to their VLP and get 1 free!

New customers:

New customers can also buy 5 MapInfo Pro licences for the price of 4 until December 19th.

Terms and conditions:

Only one set per customer. The licences must be part of a single serial number and activation code, so the offer does not stand for individual seats. Maintenance/MATS is not discounted & MATS is mandatory for new customers (the usual maintenance rules apply for existing users).Purchase orders must include the text ‘B4GOF Offer’ to quality for the special rates.

For more information: call Paula Holdstock on 01527 556930 or email paula.holdstock@dottedeyes.com

Buy a new licence for MapInfo Professional before 30th October 2008, and you can attend a Introduction to MapInfo or Advanced MapInfo public course at half price, saving £250. Course delegates learn how to use the software more effectively – saving time and effort.

Course places must be taken by 31st March 2009.

For more information, contact Paula Holdstock on 01527 556930.

**STOP PRESS. You can now take a Vertical Mapper course half price instead, saving £175**

Dotted Eyes has been nominated for the UK Oracle User Group Technology Partner of the Year award. Over the last year, our Oracle experts have revised our Data Loading product, SuperpOSe, which contains significant Oracle performance enhancements. We’ve also carried out consultancy and installation regarding large Oracle databases for key clients, including large police forces, the Environment Agency, Transport for London and local authorities. (more…)

We have released a short guide to online crime mapping, featuring our ForceView product, in response to the flood of enquiries we have received since the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, announced plans to roll out crime maps to all police forces by the end of the year. The announcement was made during a visit to one of our online crime mapping customers, West Midlands Police, in July 2008.

ForceView allows online crime mapping to be implemented in a quarter of the time taken to do it in-house, making it an ideal solution for police forces who need to put their crime statistics online by the end of the year.

Call Paula Holdstock on 01527 556920 to request a copy of the guide or to arrange a one hour ‘planning and implementation’ overview of crime mapping, including a summary of the lessons learned to date.

MapInfo has confirmed that it will have shipped all MapInfo Professional 9.5 to maintenance customers by the end of July.

Any maintenance customers who haven’t received their upgrade by August 6th can email us and we will investigate the delay on their behalf.

If you are not on maintenance, but would like a quotation for an upgrade, please contact our Commercial Team on 01527 556920.