Opening MapInfo Tables - MapInfo_Pro - 2023

Just about everything in MapInfo Pro starts with opening a table. You can display the information in your tables in a number of ways in MapInfo Pro, as a table, in a browser, and on a map.

To open a local table (which is a data file on your machine):

1. On the HOME tab, on the File group, in the Open list, click Table to open the Open dialog box.
   Note: If you are at the Quick Start dialog box (the first dialog box you see after starting MapInfo Pro), choose the Open button. The Open dialog box displays.
2. Navigate to the data file you want to open. From the Files of type drop-down list, select the type of data you will open.
3. From the Preferred View drop-down list, select the view you want of this data.
   • Automatic - MapInfo Pro chooses the most appropriate view. If the data is mappable (for example, graphic objects are attached to the data), for example, MapInfo Pro opens the table in a Map window. If you have a Map window displayed and the table you want to open is mappable, MapInfo Pro will automatically open the table in the current Map window. If the data is not mappable, MapInfo Pro will attempt to open the table in a Browser window. If the table cannot be mapped or browsed, MapInfo Pro opens the table using the No View option (no data is displayed).
   • Browser - MapInfo Pro attempts to open the table in a Browser window.
   • Current Mapper - MapInfo Pro attempts to add your data to the current Map window.
   • New Mapper - MapInfo Pro attempts to open the table in a new Map window.
   • No View - MapInfo Pro opens the table making the data available for other uses, but no data is displayed.
     Note: When you open a table and select an option in the Preferred View drop-down list, MapInfo Pro remembers what you selected and uses the same option the next time you open a table.
4. Select the Create copy in MapInfo format for read/write check box to open it in native (.tab) format.
   Note: If you do not select the Create copy check box, the file opens read-only.
5. To open the file, do one of the following:
   • Double click the file you want to open
   • Click the file you want to open to highlight it in the list and click Open.

     Using either method, MapInfo Pro opens the data file.

When opening multiple tables, use Shift-click to select adjacent tables and Ctrl-click to select non-adjacent tables.

Note that although a MapInfo Pro table consists of two or more component files (STATES.TAB, STATES.DAT, STATES.MAP, etc.), only the .TAB file appears in the File Name box of the Open dialog box. It is the only component file you must open. For more about these other MapInfo file types, see Understanding the Files Associated with MapInfo Pro Tables.

In MapInfo Pro you can work with a variety of table types. Some data tables are like the example table we just discussed. Further subdividing this class of tables are data tables that contain graphic objects (map objects) and data tables that do not (such as spreadsheets or external database tables). Raster tables are graphic images that you can display in a Map window. These computerized pictures do not have the same table structure of record, field, and index as data tables do, and therefore, will not be discussed in this chapter.

For more on raster images, see Working with Raster Images in the MapInfo Pro Help System.

For more on raster images, see Working with Raster Images.

You can see what windows are currently open by reviewing the list at the bottom of the Explorer window.

You can open additional tables to add more information (layers) to the Map window. If you want the second table to display in the current Map window, leave the Automatic option selected in the Preferred View list. MapInfo Pro displays the table in the current Map window automatically.

If you do not want the table to display with the first map, choose New Mapper. MapInfo Pro opens a second table in its own Map window.

To set a default path you want MapInfo Pro to use when opening tables, select new directories in the Directories Preferences dialog box. Here, you can also set default paths for workspaces, MapBasic programs, Import files, and DBMS SQL queries.

See Setting your Directory Preferences.

See Setting your Directory Preferences in the Help System.

Use the Places Bar to quickly access a specified directory. There are four MapInfo Pro Places options: Table; Workspaces; Import Files; Remote Tables. Designate each directory path in the Directories Preferences dialog box.

In MapInfo Pro you can work with a variety of table types. Some data tables are like the example table we just discussed. Further subdividing this class of tables are data tables that contain graphic objects (map objects) and data tables that do not (such as spreadsheets or external database tables). Raster tables are graphic images that you can display in a Map window. These computerized pictures do not have the same table structure of record, field, and index as data tables do, and therefore, will not be discussed in this chapter. You can see what windows are currently open by reviewing the list at the bottom of the Explorer window.

A Note about the Preferred View Options

Of the five Preferred View options, Automatic and No View will work on all tables, regardless of what kind of data they contain.

MapInfo Pro attempts to open the table as specified for Browser, Current Mapper, and New Mapper. If it cannot, it will open the table according to the following rules:

• If Current Mapper is selected, and there is no Map window displayed, MapInfo Pro will attempt to open the table in a new Map window.
• If Current Mapper or New Mapper is selected and the data is not mappable, MapInfo Pro will try to open the table in a Browser window.
• If the table cannot be mapped or browsed, MapInfo Pro opens the table using the No View option (no data is displayed). You will see it in the Tables list in the Explorer window.

For more information, see Renaming a Table and Deleting a Table.