Getting Started with Dynamic Atlas
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Quick Instructions for Downloading
and Setting Up Dynamic Atlas
Thank you for your interest in Dynamic Atlas. Dynamic Atlas makes
using maps to publish and provide access to information easy and
effective. The following will help you to quickly set up the software and
start using it.
What is Dynamic Atlas?
Dynamic Atlas is a suite of information
publishing and access software. The
software enables the publishing of maps,
databases, and documents in a structured
“atlas” for any subject such as health,
environment, tourism, finance, program
coordination, business development, natural
resources...
The diagram shows the Dynamic Atlas
components and how they can form part of
an overall information management
structure in any organization of any size. The
components are:
1. Dynamic Knowledgebase provides the ability to quickly and easily set up and manage
atlases for publishing to the desktop with Dynamic Maps and the web with Dynamic Web
Maps Server.
2. Dynamic Maps makes it easy for anyone to use maps in their everyday work. Integrate
your data with the map to see trends and create indicator maps. Use the map as a
“library” for related documents and web links. Plus it is integrated with Microsoft Office
to provide easy publishing of maps in PowerPoint and related data analysis in Excel.
3. Dynamic Web Maps Server enables the publishing over the Internet of maps as well
as the data, documents, URLs, etc. related to any map feature(s).
4. Dynamic Publisher enables “atlases” and Dynamic Maps to be packaged for broad
dissemination on CD/DVD, making the client installation process fully automated.
5. An “Atlas” is a physical collection of:
Map data that can be in ESRI shape or coverage vector formats, as well as several
different raster formats for imagery;
Tabular data sets stored in relational database or spreadsheets;
Related information in the form of documents, multimedia, links to web sites, etc.
Metadata, which are descriptions about the maps, tabular data, and related
information.
Rules about how the software presents the information in a logical and
understandable way to the client.
Downloading and Licensing Dynamic Atlas
The software, manuals, and demonstration atlases are all available for download from our
web site at: http://www.dynamicplanet.com/Support/DP_Downloads.html. At a minimum,
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Dynamic Planet – www.dynamicplanet.com Quick Use Instructions
we recommend that you download Dynamic Maps, the manual, and a demo atlas or two so
you can get an idea of what functionality is supported.
Licensing:
Dynamic Maps is license-free and standalone software. As a result, once your atlas is
built, it can be distributed to clients at no cost to them.
Dynamic Knowledgebase, Dynamic Web Maps Server and Dynamic Publisher
software are also free but need a license key code to run. Please contact Hugh Williams
at hugh@dynamicplanet.com with your name, organization and contact information for
the license.
Installing Dynamic Atlas
Download from: http://www.dynamicplanet.com/Support/DP_Downloads.html
Any demonstration atlas
Dynamic Knowledgebase 3.1 Install.exe
Dynamic Maps 3.1 Install.exe
Dynamic Web Maps Server 3.1 Install.exe (if needed / interested)
Installing / Running Dynamic Maps and Dynamic Knowledgebase Together
(Steps 1 to 4 can be done in any order)
1. Install Dynamic Maps, reboot the computer (very important!).
2. Install Dynamic Knowledgebase, reboot the computer (very important!).
3. "Install" (unzip) a demo atlas onto a hard drive on your computer or a shared network
drive – the default directory is "C:\Atlases\{name of atlas}" for the atlases available from
our web site.
4. Launch Dynamic Knowledgebase for the first time and input the License Key Code.
5. Click "Create" from the main screen to "Create a New Atlas Manager". This will put an
“Atlas Manager.mdb” file on your computer, which will be used to keep track of what atlases
are registered so that users of Dynamic Maps can access them.
6. Click "Import" on the main form and navigate to the root directory of the atlas (e.g.
"C:\Atlases\{name of atlas}") and click “OK”. If you are going to provide Dynamic Atlas
users access to the atlas(es) over a LAN/WAN, then use network pathnames to locate the
atlas instead of local pathnames.
During the import process, Dynamic Knowledgebase will check all the data connections to
verify that the data sources are all present and valid. If not, then a report will be presented
allowing you to stop the import process and try to fix the missing data problem, or continue
but with the bad data references removed from the atlas. Once the atlas is imported you
are able to “Open” a selected atlas and manage the atlas information.
7. Launch Dynamic Maps. On the main form click “Select” to select the Atlas Manager and
navigate to and select the Atlas Manager.mdb file (see step 5). Once you connect to the
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Dynamic Planet – www.dynamicplanet.com Quick Use Instructions
Atlas Manager and you are back in the main form, you will see a list of the atlases imported
with Dynamic Knowledgebase. Select an atlas and click “Open” to launch the atlas.
Dynamic Maps can also be used in a standalone mode (without using Dynamic
Knowledgebase) by importing an atlas “locally”. Note: A “Global” atlas (registered in the
atlas manager.mdb) MUST NOT be imported as a “Local” atlas with Dynamic Maps.
For information about using Dynamic Maps and Dynamic Knowledgebase, please consult the
manuals.
Installing Dynamic Web Maps Server
Dynamic Web Maps Server can be installed on:
Windows NT Workstation v4 or Windows 2000 Professional running Personal Web
Server; or,
Windows NT Server v4 or Windows 2000 Server or XP running Microsoft Internet
Information Server.
Installation requires knowledge of web server configuration and operating system security.
Please refer to the Dynamic Web Maps Server v3.1 Manual for details on the installation and
configuration process.
Internet Publishing and Atlas Services from Dynamic Planet.
If you are considering Internet publishing and do not have facilities to host and manage a
web server, Dynamic Planet can publish your atlas on the Internet. We provide you unique
URLs for each Topic in your atlas. You then link to the topics on your web site and you're
publishing dynamic maps, tabular data and documents!
Contact Us
For more information about our products and services, please feel free to contact
Hugh Williams at hugh@dynamicplanet.com.
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