Custom Application Development

TransCAD includes the Geographic Information System Developer's Kit (GISDK™). GISDK gives you all the programming tools that you need to add GIS functions, mapping and geographic analysis capabilities to Windows desktop applications.

Caliper offers a number of sample add-ins for download.

GISDK

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GISDK includes more than 850 GIS functions which can be called from Windows applications written in C# or any other .NET language, and Python.

The Caliper Script code is stored in resource files that you can edit with your favorite text editor. With GISDK you can:

Open geographic files in many GIS formats
Create maps in many different geographic projections
Geocode street addresses using your licensed country data packages
Geocode tables of street addresses
Reverse geocode: obtaining information about all the map layers for an input geographic coordinate
Select (filter) map features near a geographic coordinate by circle, by shape, or by query
Calculate the directions between geographic coordinates by minimizing the travel time

GISDK also includes its own scripting environment with an immediate execution toolbox, a debugger, and a compiler.

Leverage the power of TransCAD in your own applications

You can extend TransCAD via the GISDK scripting environment or any .NET languages, especially C#.

Add-Ins:

Add-ins are macros or dialog boxes that are launched within TransCAD. You can create add-ins to provide end-users with easier access to existing software functions; to add new capabilities to the GIS engine; or to create hooks to your own applications. Add-ins can be freely distributed to any TransCAD user without restriction.

The simplest add-ins are macros that run when they are selected by the user. A sophisticated add-in can display dialog boxes that let the user choose the settings or options to use when the macro is executed. The most flexible and powerful add-ins are custom toolboxes that provide users with push-button access to tools that you have programmed. These toolboxes look like the standard toolboxes used in all Windows applications.

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Custom Applications:

GISDK lets you create a mapping application program with a custom user interface. You design the menus, toolbars, toolboxes and dialog boxes, and program the application to respond to user actions in any way you want.

You can organize and structure your custom applications to appeal to a particular audience. You can create applications that are dynamic and that adapt to the capabilities and authorization level of the user.

Custom applications are executed like other Windows programs. Add your own program icon to any program group and double click to launch your application.

Accessing TransCAD from .NET or as a COM Object:

GISDK allows you to call mapping functions and macros from another application, written in another programming language. The .NET classes included with TransCAD allow you to access the GISDK environment from a Windows desktop application (Windows Forms) written in any .NET language. GISDK also allows you to call GISDK functions and macros from another application using COM. TransCAD can provide map, data, and geographic analysis services when accessed as a COM Object. You write your application in a programming language that can make COM calls, and when you need map services you call the TransCAD object to supply those services.

Publishing Maps on the Web

If you would like to put your maps on the web, contact Caliper Corporation directly (email: info@caliper.com, telephone +1 617-527-4700).

Caliper also provides comprehensive GIS application development services. We specialize in designing, implementing, and integrating GIS applications and web services for large and enterprises and government organizations. More...

Application Development Platform