mapping routes in Visio

[asc4john]

I have a large number of maps (prints) in Visio of a campus. What I
want to do, for the heck of it, is to select a start point and an end
point and then plan a route sort of like a small MapQuest. I know the
locations of all the pathways, corriodors, stairs, elevators ..... So
it seems like it could be done. But I don't know where to start. I
have the info in a database Access and can link to the Visio drawings.
What algorithms are used? Are there any sites that have code available?
Google searchs turn up tons of info on using but not howto.

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

In addition to a table of each point on the map, you will need a table of
paths between nearest points. Each path wll include a wieght. The wieght
would indicate the effort requied to get between two points. For example, an
elevator may have less wieght than a set of stairs that get between the same
two points. Of course, if the time waiting for the elevator is a factor,
then the wieghts may be reveresed.

You will then have to iterate through te collection to determine other paths
between two given points. The path with the lowest wieght should be your
best solution.

John... Visio MVP

Need stencils or ideas? http://visio.mvps.org/3rdparty.htm
Need VBA examples? http://visio.mvps.org/VBA.htm
Visio Wishlist http://visio.mvps.org/wish_list.htm

 

[Al Edlund]

You might start over here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-star_search_algorithm

al

 

[asc4john]

graph theory like duh. Thank you

You might start over here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-star_search_algorithm

al

 

[Al Edlund]

as in many of the questions that we get over here, finding the root
information to begin with is often the larger challange (breadthfirst,
depthfirst, dykstra, shortestpath, etc. etc.)
al