When a table is created in MapInfo format, through an import of a MIF table, or by creation of a new table, it is defined according to one of two main types:
- Earth with two sub-types: Long\Lat, or Projected (Robinson, UTM, Lambert, etc.)
- Non-Earth
A map is always "bounded" by a pair of (Min X / Min Y) (Max X / Max Y) values that define a rectangle (Lower left/Upper right corners).
The bounding rectangle can be one of two types:
- Implicit (automatically set by MI to default values depending on projection)
- Explicit (the bounds are spelled out and form an integral and visible part of the table specifications).
Implicit (default option) and explicit bounds are possible with Long\Lat and projected maps. Explicit bounding is required for Non-Earth tables.
The bounds are stringent limits: it is impossible to add objects to a map that would lie outside the bounds (its coordinates would be clipped to the bounds of the table).
Bounds values can be altered by editing the MIF export file.