Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Internet Mapping Help and Tutorial System

General Map Instructions #2: Navigating Around Maps

The Zoom tools are unique to digital maps. They are very much like using an actual magnifying glass, as the icons imply. The magnifying glass with the little plus sign lets you Zoom In, while the one with the little minus sign lets you Zoom Out. There are a couple of ways to use these tools.

For example, click on one of them to select it, then go somewhere on the map and press the left mouse button. If it is the Zoom In tool the map zooms in. The center of the new map is wherever on the map you clicked the mouse button. The Zoom Out tool zooms out the same way.

Second, you can zoom in more precisely by pressing the mouse button somewhere on the map, holding it down, and dragging a box. When you let go of the mouse button the new map extent will be the area defined by the box. When zooming out, the area defined by the box becomes the new map extent.

Zoom to Scale
Click here for a relevant, but not essential, discussion on scale.

One possible method of zooming uses the scale displayed below the map window. Enter your desired map scale, press Go and the map automatically zooms to that scale.

Please note that the scale that appears on this viewer is for map navigation only, and is not necessarily accurate. Without information about the size of your monitor or display device, it is impossible for us to accurately provide a ratio scale.

Error is most pronounced if you are operating a large monitor (or a projection device) running at a very low resolution, or if you are running a small monitor at a very high resolution. A 17" monitor running at a resolution of 800x600 or 1024x768 is much better represented by the denoted ratio scale.

Some maps have limits on the scales at which you can view the data. As well, some layers and/or map labels may only appear at certain scales. For example, you listen to a stereo within a certain range. At a certain volume you can't hear the music any clearer if you make it louder, and at a certain quietness you can't hear it at all, no matter how much lower you turn the volume knob.

There are a few other functions that make navigating around maps easier.

The first is the Zoom Previous tool. It is available either as a button and jumps you back to the previous map extent.

Another operation from the function menu is Zoom to BC. It zooms you out to the maximum extent of the province.

You can look at a specific area of interest. You can move around the map using the pan tool. The Pan tool lets you slide around to different parts of the map with the Ministry Applications.

For example, suppose you want to go north (up the map). Take the Pan tool and grab (press and hold down the mouse button) onto the map pulling it down. Whatever part of the map you grab with the little hand will end up where you let go of the mouse button. Just like in real life. This works for moving any direction on the map.

A Key Map gives the main map context by showing where the map fits into the broader scheme of things. For instance, if we were making a map of the Burundi, it would probably be worthwhile to include a Key Map showing where in Africa Burundi is situated.

A Key Map may also cover the same area as the map itself when it first opens. In our example we are looking at a Key Map, which accompanies a map of British Columbia. The red rectangle reflects the current extent of the map viewer. As you zoom in and out, the Key Map can be a useful tool, as it helps you to stay oriented. The Key Map can also be used to centre your view over a given area of the province simply by clicking on the area you wish to view.

Next, you will find out how to make a layer active.

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