What's New in MapPoint Web Service

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What's New in MapPoint Web Service

The latest version of the MapPoint Web Service includes many new features to make it easier for you to implement MapPoint Web Service applications. The latest version also includes backward-compatible updates to some existing features. The following list includes features that were added in versions 4.1 and later of MapPoint Web Service.

New Features Added in MapPoint Web Service Version 4.5 CSR5

PreferredRoadTypes Class added

You can now use MapPoint Web Service to set preferences for different road types. MapPoint Web Service uses these preferences when it generates routes and driving directions. By setting your road preferences, for example, you can ask MapPoint Web Service to generate routes that favor freeways and major roads over toll roads and ferries.

For more information, see the following topic:

European map style added

A new Europe map style has been added. This map style, which draws maps in a color scheme commonly found in European maps, works with the MapPoint.EU data source.

MapPoint Web Service Customer Services site has been updated

There are two major changes to the MWS Customer Services site. First, you now use your Microsoft Live ID (Passport) account to access the site. Second, the URL for the site has changed. It is now https://mappoint-css.live.com/CSCV3/.

New Features Added in MapPoint Web Service Version 4.1 CSR2

Batch Geocoding

MapPoint Web Service now includes functionality for geocoding your point-of-interest data. If you store your point-of-interest data on your own servers, you can now geocode the data without having to upload it to the MapPoint Web Service staging or production environment.

For more information, see the following topics:

Data Source File Management

You can use the MapPoint Web Service Customer Services site (https://mappoint-css.live.com/CSCV3/) to manage your custom data sources. From the user interface, you can copy data sources from one server environment to the other and permanently delete data sources. The latest version of MapPoint Web Service includes APIs that you can use to perform the same tasks: programmatically copying your custom data sources from one environment to the other and deleting your custom data sources.

For more information about programmatically copying and deleting your custom data sources, see the following topics:

New Features Added in MapPoint Web Service Version 4.1

MapPoint.WorldRoutable Data Source

MapPoint Web Service includes a new data source named MapPoint.WorldRoutable. This data source provides you with a worldwide road map that is optimized for route planning as well as time and distance calculations. You also get map coverage in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Data is available in 13 languages.

For more information about the MapPoint.WorldRoutable data source, see the following topics:

Polygon Data Sources

You can now include custom polygon data in your MapPoint Web Service applications. In addition to the points-of-interest custom data, you can define specific regions related to your business. For example, you can create polygons that define delivery areas. Like other customer data sources, this data is stored on our servers and can be uploaded and downloaded programmatically or through the Customer Services site (https://mappoint-css.live.com/CSCV3/). New methods and properties allow you to draw the polygons on your maps and control the color and level of transparency.

For more information about working with polygons, see the following topics:

Traffic Data Sources

MapPoint Web Service includes two new data sources that allow you to include real-time traffic information into your maps. The MapPointTravel.TrafficAreas data source defines metropolitan areas for which traffic information is available, and MapPointTravel.TrafficIncidents provides specific traffic information for each traffic area.

For more information about working with traffic data, see Using the MapPointTravel Data Sources.

LineDrive Maps

The LineDrive map style has been added to MapPoint Web Service. It allows you to present routing information in a simplified, sketch-style map. A LineDrive map contains only the necessary information the user needs to follow the route—each turn, primary road names, exit numbers, and distances, for example. Unlike traditional maps, however, LineDrive maps are not drawn to scale.

For more information about working with traffic data, see the following topics:

Night Map Style

The Night map style has been added to the MapPoint Web Service. It shows roads and some political geographies, optimized for low-light viewing conditions. It is a color map, but the color palette has been significantly redcued to provide the easiest reading at night.

For more information about using the Night map style, see Night Map Style.

Note for MapPoint Web Service, Version 3.0 and Version 3.5 developers

This latest version of the MapPoint Web Service (Version 4.1 CSR2) is fully backward-compatible with previous versions of the Web service. Your existing applications should continue to function as expected without changing or re-compiling the source code. For more information on backward-compatibility, see the release notice on the MapPoint Web Service Customer Services site (https://mappoint-css.live.com/CSCV3/).