New Geodemographic Software Product CGIS Ships GEONAB The Centre for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS) is pleased to announce that it is shipping GEONAB Version 1, its latest GIS software product. GEONAB, an acronym for Geographic Names and Administrative Boundaries, allows the user to view accurate, up-to-date administrative boundaries and names of all municipalities, zones, cities, and significant landmarks in the State of Qatar. In addition, by clicking on a particular feature, a brief description of that area will appear in an associated text window. The product is completely bilingual, providing the capability of toggling between Arabic and English at will. Other features include a place name locator, which is used to determine the location of a site by typing in its name and a simple measuring tool that calculates the linear distance between any two points. GEONAB can easily pan and zoom to specific areas of interest for a closer visual inspection and supports standard Windows functions, such as the ability to include the maps it creates into other documents using simple cut and paste procedures. For those using AutoCAD and related products, GEONAB's ability to export files in the drawing exchange format (DXF) is an important feature. This first version of GEONAB is a 16-bit application, supporting all Microsoft Windows variations including Windows 3.1 and above, Windows 95, and Windows NT. The hardware requirements for GEONAB are the same as those for the specific Windows product. GEONAB Version 1 has been nominally priced at QR 100 (US$ 30) to assure widespread usage. The succeeding version of GEONAB is planned as a native 32-bit application and will be distributed as an update to existing users either free of charge or for a small price. It will include an updated version of the basemap. Comments Zul Jiwani, Head of CGIS, "With GEONAB, we have created a low cost, easy-to-use software product that will find a wide, wide range of uses. Schools will find it invaluable in geography lessons, government agencies for municipal planning, and contracting companies for submitting bids based on precise land measurements, to name just a few. We hope that GEONAB will be implemented throughout the State of Qatar as the de facto standard for geographic related applications." To order GEONAB, please contact The Centre for GIS, P.O. Box 22088, Doha, Qatar.Telephone (974) 337555 or fax (974) 444036. Payment may be made by cash or check. GEONAB can easily toggle between the English and Arabic languages, as emphasized in this artistic treatment CONTENTS NEXT