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ConnectTheDots 1.0: A tool for creating polylines and polygons from points in MapInfo

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Author:Caleb Turner
Caleb Turner
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  • File Name: connectthedots-119.zip (7.42 KB)
  • Author: Andrew Dressel
  • Created: Oct 12, 1999
  • Modified: Oct 12, 1999
  • Supporting GIS: MapInfo Professional
  • OS Support: Windows (legacy versions typical of late-1990s MapInfo environments)

Overview

Connect the Dots Version 1.0 is a lightweight utility for MapInfo Professional that constructs a polyline or polygon from an existing set of point features. The tool automates the otherwise manual process of digitizing lines or closed areas by sequentially connecting point geometries.

Given its 1999 release date, this utility was designed for classic desktop GIS workflows, likely implemented as a MapBasic add-on.

Core Functionality

Reads a selected point layer

Connects points in defined order (e.g., table order or sorted by attribute)

Outputs:

  • Polyline (open geometry), or
  • Polygon (closed geometry)
  • Reduces manual editing effort
  • Preserves attribute-driven sequencing (when applicable)
  • Typical Use Cases
  • Reconstructing parcel boundaries from surveyed point data
  • Creating road centerlines from ordered GPS points
  • Building lake or administrative boundaries from coordinate lists
  • Converting tabular coordinate datasets into usable geometry

Workflow Context (MapInfo Professional)

  1. Load point dataset into MapInfo.
  2. Run ConnectTheDots tool.
  3. Select source table and output geometry type.
  4. Generate resulting line or polygon object.
  5. Save output as a new layer.

Because ordering matters when constructing geometry from discrete points, users typically pre-sort the dataset (e.g., by survey sequence, ID, or timestamp).

Technical Considerations

  • Works best with correctly ordered point records.
  • Does not inherently validate topology (e.g., self-intersections).
  • Intended for small to mid-sized datasets typical of 1990s desktop GIS constraints.
  • Designed for legacy Windows environments compatible with MapInfo versions of that era.

Historical Context

Tools like ConnectTheDots reflect an era when GIS workflows required modular utilities to extend core desktop capabilities. Before widespread geoprocessing toolboxes and scripting automation became standard, focused add-ons filled critical operational gaps.

For organizations maintaining legacy MapInfo workflows or archival systems, this utility remains relevant for reconstructing geometry from historic point datasets.

If needed, I can also provide:

  • A modern equivalent workflow (e.g., QGIS or ArcGIS Pro)
  • A MapBasic-style pseudocode explanation of how the tool likely operates
  • A compatibility assessment for running in current Windows environments

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