Making Maps With Computers Files

Making Maps With Computers

PLEASE NOTE: the original AllOfMakingMaps.zip was produced with
JBuilder 2006 using Java JDK 5.  This version of AllOfMakingMaps.zip
was produced by importing the original code into IntelliJ IDEA 12 and
using Java JDK 6.  The source code and documentation have been updatted.


The focus of this project is on exploring and developing techniques
for writing computer programs which can generate paper maps and map
displays on computer monitors.  It also looks at programs which can
use map backgrounds over which the users can display their data.  At
present, there does not seem to be any extensive documentation relating
to developing this type of computer program.  While there are a large
number of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs, which use map
backgrounds, they tend to be overly complicated for the non-GIS layman.
Additionally, these programs tend to provide little support for a
variety of capabilities which are needed when producing presentation
maps.

The programming language used in this project is Java.  However,
this is not a "Java solution".  Where possible, the more advanced
features of the language and supporting classes have been avoided
and downplayed.  The goal here is to make the example code somewhat
language independent.  This will, I hope, make it easier for
non-Java programmers to understand the code and to convert the code
to other languages.  While there is a large amount of Java code in
this project, the real work is being done in English.  The code is
mainly used to verify that what is said in English actually works
and to create a useful end product.


The "AllOfMakingMaps.zip" file contains everything except the
Reference Documents.  NOTE: there are a number of separate projects
which support this one.  They include the Java Map Projection
Library, Micro World Data Bank, FWP Graphics Utilities and ICONS,
 - GIFs and PNGs.  These are not included in the
"AllOfMakingMaps.zip" file.  The support projects are available
separately at:  

http://javamapprojlib.sourceforge.net/
http://microworld-db-2.sourceforge.net/
http://fwp-utilities.sourceforge.net/
http://icons-gifs-pngs.sourceforge.net/

Please note that the code from of these projects which is necessay
for the operation of the programs in this section is included in
AllOfMakingMaps.zip.  Downloading and studying the above four 
projects is recommended for a more complete understanding of this
project.

With few exceptions, all of the materials in this project have been
placed in the public domain so that they can be used and adapted
without restriction.  The remaining materials are released under one
or more of the popular open source licenses.  

Fred Pospeschil