Effective April 30, 2022, MapBusinessOnline business mapping software will change its base map (background) layer format. MapBusinessOnline will be transitioning to vector tile-based map backgrounds.
Why is this Change Taking Place?
This adjustment is occurring due to changes in background map tiling formats. Raster imagery base maps will no longer be available, except for the ‘Satellite imagery’ map background option. “We will be deprecating current raster base map layers and upgrading the maps to use vector base map layers instead,” said MapBusinessOnline President Geoffrey Ives.
Vector tiles offer significant advantages over the raster-based geographic map views:
- Vector tiles provide higher resolution map visualizations at specific scales.
- Vector tiles provide higher resolution maps for user exported PDF, Jpeg, and PNG files used for printing and image placement.
These advantages will improve the overall performance of map background layers in MapBusinessOnline.
How Can the Map User View the Difference Between Raster and Vector Tiles?
In the current version of MapBusinessOnline, users can view vector tiles and turn them on and off.
- Go to Map and Data.
- Hover your cursor over the Streets background layer (the bottom option) and click the Edit the Map Layer Properties gear.
- Check on the Vector Tiles checkbox to view vector tile base maps and check off to view raster base map backgrounds.
No vector tiles
Vector tiles
How Will This Impact User Saved Map Projects?
Certain MapBusinessOnline base map layers will no longer be available for map styling after April 30, 2022. The new base map layer options will automatically apply to existing map projects at that time and as noted below:
- The Streets base map layer will remain, but only the vector tile version will be available. MapBusinessOnline customer map projects using this layer will automatically start using the vector tile version.
- The Satellite imagery base map layer will not change. MapBusinessOnline customer map projects using this layer will not be impacted.
- Imagery & streets base map layer will remain, but only the vector tile version will be available. MapBusinessOnline customer map projects using this layer will automatically start using the vector tile version.
- The National Geographic base map layer will be removed. MapBusinessOnline customer maps using this layer will automatically transition to the vector tile version of the Streets base map layer.
- The Topographic base map layer will be removed. MapBusinessOnline customer maps using this layer will automatically transition to the vector tile version of the Streets base map layer.
This change in background map layer presentation will not impact customer imported data, territory map layers, other map layers such as ZIP codes, counties, and states, or other map objects.
Please get in touch with us with any questions or concerns about this change.
Geoffrey Ives geoffives@spatialteq.com or Jason Henderson jhenderson@spatialteq.com
Or use the Contact Us Button or Chat option on the website.
