With Highcharts v10, we have built TopoJSON support and client-side projection into the core product. This means smaller map files, faster loading, and more flexible map layouts.<\/p>\n
TopoJSON<\/b><\/p>\n
TopoJSON<\/a><\/span> is an extension of GeoJSON<\/span><\/a> that identifies shared polygon or line segments, typically a border between two countries, and refers it instead of repeating it. This, together with data compression of coordinates, greatly reduces file size compared to GeoJSON, and makes it highly suitable for use on the web. With the Highcharts Map Collection v2<\/span><\/a> we provide TopoJSON versions of our maps. Most of our map demo charts<\/span><\/a> are rewritten to use the new map sources.<\/p>\n Built-in projection<\/b><\/p>\n Our legacy GeoJSON map sources were pre-projected, and information about the projection was encoded in the file. With use of a third party projection library it could be handled and longitude\/latitude could be used in the map. With Highcharts v10 this is no longer necessary, as projection is built right into the product. This allows some features that were not previously possible:<\/p>\n Map insets<\/b><\/p>\n Another feature of the legacy GeoJSON maps was to project offshore areas next to the mainland. Think Alaska and Hawaii next to mainland USA. When we removed projection from the source files we no longer had control over that, so instead we created the MapView Insets<\/span><\/a> feature. It allows rendering features within a certain geographic area into a frame in the map, all defined in the chart configuration. But to make it more useable, we added a recommended map view node to some of the TopoJSON map sources, which will include recommended inset definitions. Furthermore, this is completely extendable and can be replaced, removed or modified by the chart configuration.<\/p>\n\n