How to handle Map Elements

This interface allows inserting and changing some elements of the map, such as text, legends, symbols and scale, and moving them in the chart area:

Check out other options on the SCARTA - Main Menu

How to insert elements on a map...

  • click on Edit, on the main menu and select Elements...;
  • click on Insert, and select one of the options ( texts, symbols, legends or scale).

How to select and move an element...

  • clickon the element (text, symbol or legend). Observe that the element is involved with rectangular borders;
  • drag the element to the desired position using the left button (LB) of the mouse.

How to select and move more than one element...

  • click on the rectangles that involve the data using the LB of the mouse, selecting the desired elements;
  • release the LB and use the RB to drag the elements to the desired positron. Check the example below:

LEGEND

 

SAVANNAH

 

WATER

 

URBAN

 

How to undo the selection of one or more elements

  • clickon any area out of the selection.

Alignment of elements...

The option Align is used when you want to align more the one selected element.

How to align elements:

  • select the elements you want to align;
  • click on Align ;
  • choose one of the options: Vertical Left, Vertical Right, Vertical Center, Horizontal Lower, Horizontal Upper, Horizontal Center ;

Controlling the localization of elements

At the dialog box Chart Elements Editor, option Position Control, the localization of elements (texts, symbols and scales) can be defined. The operations are performed over the selected elements on the drawing area or over the new elements created. The elements (texts, symbols and scales) can be placed according to a geographic position (geographic or planes coordinates) or in centimeters (cm).

Cm. of Paper Option:

Position Control:

  • select the option Cm of Paper;
  • select the element on the map;
  • click on the fields X: and Y: and type the desired position in cm. If you want to move the element in only one direction, deactivate the button on the left of X or Y;
  • click on Set Position.

NOTE: if the elements belong to the data area, you should use one of the options below. If the data area is resized and the elements do not belong to it, the texts and symbols will not be be resized (i.e., the dimension of texts must be changed in case the scale is bigger or smaller).

Geographic Coordinates Option:

Position Control:

  • selectoption Geogr . Coords. in Position Control ;
  • select the element on the map;
  • click on the fields Long: and Lat: and type the desired position for the selected element, in geographic coordinates, for instance, o 45 00 30 (o equivalent to west) and s 23 30 00 on the data area. In case you only want to move the element in one direction, deactivate the button on the left of Long or Lat;
  • click on Set Position.

NOTE: Once the element in placed (in geographic or planes coordinates) on the data area, it will be restricted to the bounds of the data area rectangle. If you go back to the option Cm of Paper, the inserted element can not be selected for other actions.

Planes Coordinates Option:

Position Control:

  • selectthe option Planes Coords. ;
  • select the element on the map;
  • click on the fields X: and Y: and type the desired position for the selected element (for instance, 600500 and 8400300) on the data area. In case you only want to move the element in one direction, deactivate the button on the left of X or Y;
  • click on Set Position.

NOTE: If you double click on an element or any area of the map, the position fields are automatically updated according to the selected option (geographic or planes coordinates, or Cm of paper).

Controlling Elements

In the Chart Elements Editor - Movement Control dialog box it is possible to define exactly an element’s position, moving it or defining the spacing between a block, expanding, deleting, enabling or disabling elements or undoing actions.

To move an element or block of elements:

  • click on the fields X and Y and type the desired value (positive values in X and Y move the elements to the right and top while negative values to the left and bottom);
  • select the element(s);
  • make sure that the position fields (X, Y, Lat, Long) are checked;
  • click on the movement buttons (X e Y) according to the movement you wish to perform;
  • click on Move(cm);

NOTE: This feature only works with Cm of paper.

Creating space between a block of elements:

It is necessary to specify the distance in X and Y, between the selected elements on the map.

  • click on the fields X and/or Y and type the desired value;
  • select the elements;
  • make sure that the position fields (X, Y, Lat, Long) are not checked;
  • check the expand "boxes" (X and Y);
  • click on Expand(cm).

Removing elements on the map:

Clearing an element means removing it from the map.

  • select the element(s) you want to remove;
  • click on Clear. In case the element is a legend, its items will be removed from the list.

Undoing an action on the elements:

  • click on Undo;

Disabling is used to hide elements on the drawing area. The elements are still present but not visible, so they will not be printed.

Disabling an element:

  • select the element(s) to be disabled;
  • click on Disable.

Use the Enable option to see again the elements previously disabled.

Activating an element previously deactivated:

  • click on Enable;

NOTE: All elements that were previously disabled will be presented simultaneously. There is no way to enable an specific element.

Examples of how to handle the elements

See next an example of how to align elements.

·       Select the elements to be aligned;

·       Click on Align and select the desired direction;

o       Left Vertical: the selected elements move through X, as their left X position will be the same;

o       Right Vertical: the selected elements move through X, as their right X position will be the same;

o       Center Vertical: the selected elements move through X, as their central X position will be the same;

o       Top Horizontal: the selected elements move through Y, as their upper Y position will be the same;

o       Bottom Horizontal: the selected elements move through Y, as their lower Y position will be the same;

o       Center Horizontal: the selected elements move through Y, as their central Y position will be the same;

See also:

Generating and Printing Maps - Introduction