Let's say I use the Freeform tool to create an enclosed area on a map. Can I  
  
calculate the square miles of that enclosed area?  
  
Thanks,  
  
AJ

Well, the easiest way is to measure the length and the width and multiply  
  
them. Not sure if MapPoint does it for you though.  
  
--  
  
John C. Harris, MPA  
  
JCZ Consulting Services, LLC  
  
"AJ" <asbjiv@hotmail.com> wrote in message  
  
news:OEzKsaGxFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

AJ wrote:  
  
Well, there's no relationship between the circumference of a shape and  
  
its area (unless you know the shape's shape a priori).  
  
Area calculation could be coded up as a piece of custom programming.  
  
One approach would be integration (eg. using a sophisticated variant of  
  
Simpson's Rule). There are probably others.  
  
You would also have to account for the curvature of the Earth.  
  
Richard  
  
--  
  
Richard Marsden  
  
Winwaed Software Technology, http://www.winwaed.com  
  
http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint tools and add-ins

John,  
  
Thanks for your response.  
  
Unfortunately, my shape doesn't lend itself to a simple width and length  
  
measurement. Imagine it as sort of a pinto bean shape. Or perhaps a potato  
  
chip shape. It's two dimensional, but not a perfect geometric shape. Given a  
  
length around, or circumference, what's the area inside?  
  
This is more a geometry question than a question for MapPoint. I was just  
  
hoping MP had this functionality.  
  
Thanks,  
  
AJ  
  
"John C. Harris, MPA" <harris@fake.com> wrote in message  
  
news:e%23$LkHQxFHA.3720@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...

Thanks Richard,  
  
Varients of, and similar formulas to Simpson's Rule appear to be beyond my  
  
immediate grasp.  
  
Tougher question than I originally thought. Nice working the mind.  
  
AJ  
  
"Richard Marsden" <noreply@nospam.winwaed.com> wrote in message  
  
news:5O2dnTXNVfwjmKHeRVn-uw@comcast.com...

"Richard Marsden" <noreply@nospam.winwaed.com> wrote in  
  
message news:5O2dnTXNVfwjmKHeRVn-uw@comcast.com...  
  
width and length  
  
Or perhaps a potato  
  
geometric shape. Given a  
  
MapPoint. I was just  
  
a shape and  
  
programming.  
  
sophisticated variant of  
  
Earth.  
  
Need to love all that complex math...  
  
If you can extrapolate the radius, the formula is:  
  
a = cr/2  
  
a- area  
  
c-circumference  
  
r- radius