Who Should Read This Book

Programming MapPoint in .NET will be useful to anyone who wants to develop a location-based application using the following MapPoint technologies:

• MapPoint 2004

• MapPoint Web Service

• Microsoft Location Server

• MSN Virtual Earth

This book provides a jump-start for working with these technologies with in-depth discussions about the core concepts and sample code provided in C#.

What's in This Book

This book is organized into 4 major sections with a total of 11 chapters. Each product/technology has a dedicated section in the book:

Chapter 1, Hello, MapPoint!

Introduces the MapPoint suite of products and technologies, setting the stage by discussing the basics of each technology and usage scenarios.

Part I, MapPoint 2004

Chapter 2, Programming with MapPoint 2004

Covers programming with the MapPoint 2004 ActiveX control and MapPoint 2004 object model for rendering maps, finding places and addresses, and calculating routes.

Chapter 3, Working with Data in MapPoint 2004

Covers dealing with business data, rendering data maps, and adding thematic shapes using geographic data.

Chapter 4, Advanced MapPoint 2004 Programming

Covers integration with GPS for obtaining real-time location and extending MapPoint capabilities by writing add-ins.

Future versions of MapPoint (such as MapPoint 2006) are fully backward-compatible with the MapPoint 2004 APIs, so the contents of these chapters are still relevant for MapPoint 2006 and future backward-compatible versions of MapPoint.

Part II, MapPoint Web Service

Chapter 5, Programming MapPoint Web Service

Introduces the basics of programming with MapPoint Web Service.

Chapter 6, MapPoint Web Service Find APIs

Covers creating applications using the Find APIs of the MapPoint Web Service, including techniques for finding places, addresses, and nearby points of interest.

Chapter 7, MapPoint Web Service Route APIs

Covers programming with the Route APIs, such as calculating routes and getting driving directions.

Chapter 8, MapPoint Web Service Render APIs

Covers programming with the Render APIs available with MapPoint Web Service, including rendering maps, routes, LineDrive maps, and polygons.

Part III, MapPoint Location Server

Chapter 9, Programming Microsoft Location Server

Covers the basics of programming with Microsoft Location Server and deployment scenarios.

Chapter 10, Programming with Location Server APIs

Covers programming with the Location Server Web Service to get real-time location using mobile phones; also covers the basics of managing the Location Server, contacts, and privacy settings.

Part IV, MSN Virtual Earth

Chapter 11, Programming with Virtual Earth

Covers the basics of programming with the new MSN Virtual Earth (undocumented) APIs.

Appendixes

Appendix A, Managing Your Data on MapPoint's Customer Services Site

Provides programming information for the MapPoint Customer Data Service.

Appendix B, Working with Polygons

Provides basic information on understanding polygons in MapPoint Web Service.

Appendix C, Implementing Spatial Search Using SQL Server

Provides a solution for implementing a proximity search within your enterprise network that doesn't require you to upload your data to MapPoint Web Service.

This book covers the most common application development scenarios with the MapPoint platform. If you feel that something important has been left out that should be included, let me know. I'll work to get it in a future edition. For contact information, see the "We'd Like Your Feedback!" section later in the preface.