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I have stopped the development of my applet MAPresso.The increasing problems with applets in browsers make it no longer interesting to work in this area. At the moment, I think that solutions based on JavaScript, specially d3.js, give much better results. I'll try to transform some ideas of my applet to JavaScript.
MAPresso is a free Java applet for unclassed choropleth maps and cartograms.Unclassed MapsAvoiding the problem of fixing (optimal or suitable) class limits, this approach uses a continuous-tone scheme. With the possible exception of extreme values which can fall into two "classes" on either side of the value range, each region has its own specific color value. In the case where an important threshold exists (e.g. 50% "yes" in vote results) there can be set a class boundary for two separate color transitions.Bi- and Trivariate MapsTwo and three variables can be visualized simultaneously as bivariate or trivariate choropleth maps using a special color scheme, there is an option for maps with nominal data.Area CartogramsIn addition, the areas can be distorted to create a continuous area cartogram. It's an implementation of the algorithm proposed by Dougenik, Chrisman and Niemeyer (1985).Circle CartogramsData values can be also visualized as circle cartograms (Dorling 1996), cf. Dorling applet.Thematic GeneralizationAn additional feature allows a thematic generalization of the map by a simple polygon filter (see Herzog, 1995). The implemented filter is based on a Markov process.DataData values can be provided as text files. In addition, the user can enter his own data via the clipboard into a text field.Geometry: Polygons in psc-format (can be converted from ArcGIS shapefiles), circle data as text files. Some data sets are available.Output: An output as a file is not in the focus of the applet, there is a provisional possibility to produce an encapsulated PostScript file (EPS). The distorted geometry of a cartogram process can be exported in ArcGIS generate format.AvailabilityMAPresso is free. It is a Cross Platform .JAR file that (on Many Systems) can be run Stand Alone or embedded as an Applet in a Web Page.Documentation, ParametersThe documentation is split up into the following chapters:Basics, Layout nobs, language, country, map, leg, box, loglevel, splash, about, ...Data data, txtdat, vnm, geoparts, dataorder, datahidden, exclude, digits, links, linktext; Themes: hinumtheme, theme, firsttheme, firstvar, firstgeo, ...Geometry geo, geoname, nam, lab, filter, hinumgeo, geoorder, geoexclude, ...; Layers: layer; shp2pscSymbolization digits, mtyp, color1scheme, color2scheme, classes, factors, colors, bicolors, eyeexp, background, text, fehlend, border, withborders, lookup, calibration, ...; Color schemesNeighbours filter, filterw; Neighbour FileFunctionality bitri, withlabels, polylabels, zoomtool, pastefield, EPSMenu, psctMenu, relaodMenu, writeParamMenu, tipWindowMenuRequired Parameters: To start it is enough to define the number of areal units and an appropriate geometry. There are default values for all other parameters.Parameters with *: can be set as default for all themes and datasets (e.g. mtyp=1) or for each dataset of a theme (e.g. mtyp_3=1) of by substituting * by the dataset number (mtyp_3_2=1; mtyp3 is equivalent to mtyp_1_3).Parameters in italics indicate deprecated parameters.Colors have to be defined in a RGB color system (hexadecimal as #6730c7 or decimal with dots: 103.48.199).Texts: For special characters there are special escape sequences (starting with $)