MapPoint 2011 for North America was just released as of March 1, and we'd like to review here the features available for both 2010 and 2011 versions.  MapPoint is the Microsoft mapping software that works with our Excel add-in CDXZipStream, performing a variety functions within Excel such as driving distance and time calculations, route optimization, geocoding, map creation, and address verification.

The main difference between the 2011 and 2010 versions is the additional street update in 2011 – about 88,000 miles of roadways were added.  That represents about 2 percent of the approximately 4.8 million miles of roads in the US and Canada.  Particularly if you're using MapPoint for address verification or geocoding, the street update can be a significant factor in improving direct mail and customer outreach efforts.

If you're using an older, pre-2010 version of MapPoint, you may also want to consider upgrading to MapPoint 2010, which also includes updated street data over previous versions as well as some significant functional improvements.  For instance, MapPoint 2010 allows sharing of data with other mapping software or even portable GPS devices, by both importing and exporting gpx files.  It can also send location information to a mobile phone or GPS device.  MapPoint 2010 users can specify an easier-to-remember name for a route stop in lieu of an address, and can import more than 10,000 addresses into the software at one time, a limitation in other versions.  And best of all, pricing for the 2010 version is more than a few pennies cheaper than the 2011 version. 

MapPoint 2011 is currently available as a free trial from Microsoft, and you can directly compare it to the version you're now using – just specify that you want to keep your current version intact during the installation process.  And if you're ready to purchase either MapPoint 2010 or 2011, consider the excellent pricing available below from our partner site mp2kmag.com:

MapPoint 2010 Pricing

MapPoint 2011 Pricing

We've just posted two Microsoft Excel templates that allow CDXZipStream users to optimize driving routes or geocode addresses with just "one click".  These are pre-formatted spreadsheets which are programmed to import CDXZipStream data automatically – just cut and paste your address data into the template of your choice, click on a button, and the desired result is returned to the spreadsheet.  There's no need to input CDXZipStream functions or formulas on your own, and no prior experience working with Excel or CDXZipStream is necessary.

Both these templates use programming language in the form of Visual Basic "macros", which must be enabled through the security settings of Microsoft Excel.  These particular macros also offer additional security in that they are digitally signed by our parent company, Hughes Financial Services, ensuring that the macros originated from us and have not been altered in any way.  In today's blog post we're going to review the procedure for enabling macros, which varies depending on the version of Excel being used:

For Excel 2007/2010 -  First, open up a blank Excel workbook and at the top left hand corner of your screen, click on the round Microsoft Office button.  Then click Excel Options, then Trust Center, and Trust Center Settings.  Click on Macros Settings where you'll see the following options:

1. Disable all macros without notification
2. Disable all macros with notification
3. Disable all macros except digitally signed macros
4. Enable all macros (not recommended, potentially dangerous code can run)

Select any option you prefer, except for option 1, which will not allow macros to run under any circumstance.  We recommend you select options 2 or 3 in this case, and then just click OK until you are returned to the empty workbook.

Now open a CDXZipStream template and you should see the security warning bar underneath the ribbon like this:

(If you do not see the security warning, from the Microsoft Office button click Excel Options -> Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings -> Message Bar -> and choose Show the Message Bar in all applications when content has been blocked, then click OK to exit.  Close and then open the template again in order to see the security warning.)

From the Security Warning box, click on Options, and you will see this:

Choose Trust all documents from this publisher and click OK.  At this point the macros are enabled.  You will not have to repeat this procedure the next time you open the template.

For Excel 2003:  In a new workbook in Excel 2003, click on the Tools option of the Excel main menu, click Options, then click on the Security tab.  Click on Macro Security, and from the Security Level tab you will see the following options:

-    Very High.  Only macros installed in trusted locations will be allowed to run.  All other signed and unsigned macros are disabled.
-    High.  Only signed macros from trusted sources will be allowed to run.  Unsigned macros are automatically disabled.
-    Medium.  You can choose whether or not to run potentially unsafe macros.
-    Low (not recommended).  You are not protected from potentially unsafe macros.  Use this setting only if you have virus scanning software installed. Or you have checked the safety of all documents you open.

Any of these options can be used with CDXZipStream templates, with the following provisions:

For Very High Security, the template must be placed in (and run from) the "trusted location" XLStart folder, which is usually located in one of the following folders:

  •    C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel
  •    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11

Just place a copy of the template in the XLStart folder, and it will immediately be ready to run.

For High Security, when you first open the template you will see the following:

Check the box Always trust macros from this publisher then click on Enable Macros.  The template will open and will be immediately ready to use.  The next time you use the template, there will be no security warning.

When macro security is set to Medium, Excel displays the same dialog box where you can you can immediately click Enable Macros to access the template.  However, if you also select Always trust macros from this publisher, the template will immediately open the next time you use it, with no prior security warning.

Finally, the Low security setting will automatically enable macros;  this setting should only be used with appropriate virus protection installed.