CartoVista has a flexible architecture that makes data publishing and management very simple. The following diagram explains the solution components that make this solution unique.
CartoVista Components
1) CartoVista Flash Viewer
The CartoVista.swf and CartoVista.html files are the Flash executable and HTML container for the map engine. To use CartoVista, all that is required is to load this HTML file in your Internet browser. Once the CartoVista Flash engine starts, it loads the configured Flash maps and indicator data.
The CartoVista Flash viewer can be deployed on the web (intranet/internet) or even locally on a CD-ROM or another media.
2) CartoVista Maps (Flash)
Maps for CartoVista are stored as optimized vector graphics in highly compressed Flash files. CartoVista maps contain simplified graphic objects, obtained through a generalization process. All map layers are integrated in single documents, with the ability to organize maps into hierarchies of hyperlinked Flash files. The CartoVista Map Publisher Module is used to generate these Flash maps.
3) Indicator Data (XML)
CartoVista uses XML files to store your indicator data. Data that can be grouped together is stored in an XML file as a simple tabular format of rows and columns. Each XML file can contain up to 20 different indicators (fields). Each indicator field is clearly defined with its data type, unit, precision and description. CartoVista can work with an unlimited number of XML indicator files, organized into different categories.
CartoVista Modules
The modules are applications that your data and site administrator uses to configure the maps, data and tools displayed in CartoVista.
CartoVista Data Publisher Module
The CartoVista Data Publisher module allows your site administrator to publish thematic data for a set of CartoVista maps. The publisher can work with data you have in various formats like Microsoft Excel, delimited ASCII or a relational database system. The CartoVista Data Publisher packages your data into individual XML files of indicators. You can include up to 20 different indicators in a single XML file. For more information on this module, please refer to the CartoVista Data Publisher User Guide.
CartoVista Configuration Module
This module allows your site administrator to configure your CartoVista installation. The following tasks can be accomplished:
- Define which map loads when CartoVista starts.
- Define which indicator data files are attached to maps.
- Choose which tools are enabled / disabled.
- Set language and localization options (regional settings, decimals, etc.).
For more information on this module, please refer to the CartoVista Configuration User Guide.
CartoVista Map Publisher Module
The CartoVista Map Publisher Module is used to generate the Flash maps used by the CartoVista Flash Viewer. The Map Publisher Module reads Geographic Information System (GIS) data and converts it to Flash (swf). For more information on this module, please refer to the CartoVista Map Publisher User Guide.