Commands Overview Map Window GIS help
The picture map in the Map Window is built from tiles, i.e. pre-cut pixel files, which are loaded until a given display area is filled. Only a small number can be stored temporarily. So the loading and re-loading of tiles can influence in a high degree the execution of many of the following commands. For on information on how to avoid long on-line downloads of tiles, i.e. how to work in an enviroment where the tiles are provided off-line from a CD, see the Work Enviroments' topic in the help.
Symbol selection
  • To select a symbol click on it.
  • To unselect a symbol click somewhere else on the map.
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    Symbol's link(s) listing
  • The links of a selected symbol are listed in the bottom frame.
  • The execution of a link in the bottom frame always opens a new browser window first.
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    Zoom buttons in the menu frame
  • allow to zoom out, to reset the zoom to normal, and to zoom in.
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    The Zoom-in cursor in the main map frame
  • is activated by pressing the [CTRL] key,
  • doubles the zoom factor (like the zoom-out menu button),
  • centres the map display on the choosen spot,
  • and will focus on an area when used to describe a rectangle while keeping the mouse button pressed.
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    The Zoom-out cursor in the main map frame
  • is activated by pressing the [CTRL]+[SHIFT] key,
  • halves the zoom factor (like the zoom-in menu button),
  • and centres the map display on the choosen spot.
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    Move buttons in the menu frame
  • allow to shift the map display to the east and west, south and north.
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    The Pan cursor in the main map frame
  • is activated by pressing the [ALT] key,
  • and allows to drag the map display inside the map frame to a new position.
  • The main map display will shortly be updated after you stopped moving the cursor.
  • The smoothness of the operation depends on the visible map area and on your computer's performance.
    • The Re-Centre button in the menu frame
  • allows to go back to the start position.
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    Resize frame cursors
  • allow to drag and drop a frame border to a new position.
  • The main map display will shortly be updated after you stopped moving the cursor.
  • The smoothness of the operation depends on the visible map area and on your computer's performance.
    • Previous View option in the main map's contextual menu (right mouse-click)
  • restores the previous map position and zoom.
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    Copy map to clipboard option in the main map's and position map's contextual menu (right mouse-click)
  • allows the direct insertion of the current map display into a different application,
  • for example into Microsoft® Paint via menu item EDIT - PASTE,
  • or into Microsoft® Word via EDIT - PASTE SPECIAL and option 'bitmap'.
  • Background: The command copies image and text data into the clipboard. If an application like Microsoft® Word can process both it is necessary to choose a specific paste operation.
    • The Symbol Control frame
  • allows to show or hide symbols by marking or unmarking a checkbox.
  • A black label indicates that a symbol group is ready for display, a brown one that the symbols haven't been downloaded and created yet.
    • Position Map's
  • main purpose is to show position and app. extension of the current map display in the context of the whole county.
  • But it can also be used to move the map display quickly to a different position - just click on the new spot.
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    The Print Copy link in the menu frame
  • can be used to reproduce the current main map display (without the symbols) in a new browser window.
  • Note: Such an operation includes a new loading of all required map tiles.
  • If this a problem, consider as an alternative above described "Copy map to clipboard" option.
  • The main purpose of this command is to provide a work-around for a print problem in Microsoft® Internet Explorer®: embedded in a frame (as in the Map Window) a map display will be stretched until it fills the designated print area.