Using the Interactive GIS Map

This page will assist you in understanding the different functions of the viewer by displaying a short description of each button and how to use them.

To view or return to the map viewer, click here (Please use Firefox 2.0 or later to view the map).

Toolbar Usage

Below is a close-up view of options you will find on the toolbar.

When a tool is selected from the toolbar menu, the button is highlighted with a red box indicating it is active. Normally, the "Zoom In" button is active when first opened.
(See "Zoom In" Tool in the graphic below)

Scroll down for more detail on each tool.

tool bar

 

Tool Description
layer toggle Layer/Legend Toggle

Allows the user to toggle between displays of the Map Legend and Map Layers in the far right frame within the viewer. The Layer view displays which layers are available at the current scale. There are 2 options you can check for each layer. By checking "Visible", the layer will be displayed inside the view. By selecting "Active", you will be able to select, query, search and identify features of this layer. Only one layer can be active at any one time. The Refresh Map button is used to show changes if you select or unselect the Visible option. The Legend view displays each layer that is visible and the graphic used to symbolize features on that layer.
Zoom In Zoom In Allows the user to zoom in by either clicking in the view area or dragging the + cursor to create a boxed area that will determine the extent of the new view.
Zoom to Full Extent Zoom to Full Extent Allows the user to return to the original view of California with county boundaries displayed.
Return to Previous Extent Return to Previous Extent This button takes the user back to the scale and position of the last view.
Pan Up Pan Up

This button pans or moves the map display up (north) in order to obtain a new view directly north of the current view at the same scale.
Pan Left Pan Left This button pans or moves the map display left (west) in order to obtain a new view directly north of the current view at the same scale.
Identify Feature Attributes Identify Feature Attributes The Identify button allows the user to view the attributes of a particular feature. In the Layer view in the far right frame simply select the layer desired to be active before using the Identify tool. It will only return attributes for the active layer. The attributes will be displayed on the bottom of the view area. If the desired layer/feature for which attributes are desired isn't listed in the Layer view, zoom in until it is displayed, then identify it.
Find Text String Find Text String The Find button allows the user to search for a text string in the "active" layer. This search is case sensitive so to search for a particular city (for example) the user will need to capitalize the first letter.
Set Units Set Units Allows the user to set the map units in Degrees, Feet, or Meters, and display units in Feet, Miles, Meters, or Kilometers.
Select an Area Select an Area Allows the user to drag a box with the cursor to define an area of selection. Any "active" feature that touches or falls within the box will be selected. The selected set will be highlighted. Once features are selected, other functions can be performed on this selected set.
Clear all Selections Clear all Selections This button will clear any selected features or remove any added graphics such as lines or polygons used with the Line/ Polygon tool.
Overview Map Toggle Overview Map Toggle The Overview button simply turns on or off the overview area of the map. This small map in the upper left corner of the main map display indicates the current view area.
Zoom Out Zoom Out Allows the user to zoom out by either clicking in the view area or dragging the + cursor to create a boxed area that will determine the extent of the new view.
Zoom to Extent of Active Layer Zoom to Extent of Active Layer Allows the user to zoom to the extent of all features contained within the active layer.
Pan Pan The "Pan" button allows the user to take the cursor, click on the view and while still holding the mouse button down, drag the view in any direction to obtain a new view of the desired area at the same scale.
Pan Down Pan Down This button pans or moves the map display down (south) in order to obtain a new view directly north of the current view at the same scale.
Pan Right Pan Right This button pans or moves the map display right (east) in order to obtain a new view directly north of the current view at the same scale.
Query Feature Attributes Query Feature Attributes The "Query" button allows the user to select features based on a filter of selected fields of that feature. Hit the Query button to call up the query frame near the bottom. In the field area, there is a pull down menu that can be used to select the field of interest. Then choose an operator such as =, >, or LIKE to define a specific value of the field. In the value box, type the value of what you're searching for based on the field. Then hit the "Get Samples" button to see a sampling of what can be typed in this field. If the desired value is listed, simply click on that value. Once all 3 fields are complete, hit the "Add to Query String" button and hit the "Execute" button. This will perform the query and return the results as well as zoom into the area of interest which highlights the query results.
Measure Tool Measure Tool The "Measure" button allows the user to click on 2 or more points and return the distance in the current units (see "Set Units" button). It keeps track of the length of the segment as well as a running total in case there is a need to obtain the length of a route between multiple points. The readout is at the top of the view screen.
Buffer Tool Buffer Tool This button is used to create a zone around a specific feature at a designated distance from the feature. It can also be utilized to highlight another feature that falls within the defined buffer zone. The checkbox beside the Create Buffer button will display the attributes of the feature highlighted, if any. A feature(s) has to be selected before a buffer can be performed.
Select by Line/Polygon Select by Line/Polygon This button allows the user to create a line route upon which all "Active" features the line crosses will be selected or to create a polygon upon which all features touching or contained within that polygon area will be selected. To create a line, click on one or more points in the view and then hit the "Complete Line & Select" button and the selected set will be highlighted and it's attributes will be displayed in the lower window. To create a polygon, click on the view in selected points until the desired area is defined then hit the "Complete Polygon & Select" button to highlight the selected set as well as display the attributes. If a point is hit mistakenly, just hit the "Delete Last Point" button to take it off.
Creates Map Layout for Printing Creates Map Layout for Printing This button creates a printable, simple map layout of the current view area along with a legend.