Navigating the map

OnSite Solution has navigation tools that let you move around the application easily. You can pan and zoom around the map to navigate to the desired location. You can also use keyboard and mouse shortcuts for navigation.

You may also notice that the cursor changes when you perform different functions throughout the OnSite application. This topic describes the different changes to the mouse cursor.

In this topic, you will learn how to do the following:

Zooming in

You can zoom in on the map using zoom tools built into the application.

Steps:
  1. To zoom in on the map, use one of the following methods:
    • Drag the slider torwards the + until you reach the desired map scale.
      NoteNote:

      As you click the slider, the map scale displays.

    • Click the Zoom in button to zoom in on the map one map scale.

Zooming out

You can zoom out from the map using zoom out tools built into the application

Steps:
  1. To zoom out from the map, use one of the following methods:
    • Drag the slider toward the - until you reach the desired map scale.
      NoteNote:

      As you click the slider, the map scale displays.

    • Click the Zoom out button to zoom out from the map one map scale.

Panning the map

You can pan the map to change the map center. When you pan the map, the map scale does not change.

Steps:
  1. Click and drag the map to the desired location.
    Example pan

    Hold the left mouse button as you drag the map to a new location.

    The map pans to the new location. The map scale does not change.

    Pan result

  2. Alternately, you can use the keyboard arrows, such as up, down, left, and right to pan the map.

Zoom to the previous extent

As you navigate around the map, you may want to return to the previous extent. Use the Previous Map tool to return to the previous map extent. The Previous Map tool lets you navigate to one extent previous to your current extent.

NoteNote:

As a pre-requisite for using the Previous Map tool, you must have navigated around the map application. There is no visible change if you click Previous Map when you first launch the application.

Steps:
  1. Click Previous Map. Previous Map option

    The map zooms to the previous extent.

  2. Repeat step 1 as desired.

    You can continue to click Previous Map until you reach the initial extent when you launch the OnSite Solution.

Zoom to standard geography

Attached to the scale slider bar, the OnSite Solution lets you zoom in to a standard geography level, such as state, county, ZIP code, census tract, or block group level. This lets you quickly navigate to a scale on the map.

Standard geographies are country specific. The following table outlines the available standard geographies by country.

Standard geographies by country

Country

Standard geographies

Canada

  • Block groups
  • Dissemination areas
  • Forward sortation areas
  • Census tracts
  • Census metro and agglomeration areas
  • Census subdivisions
  • Census divisions
  • Federal electoral districts
  • Provinces and territories

Mexico

  • Estados (states)
  • Municipios (municipalities)

United States

  • Block groups
  • ZIP codes
  • County
  • Congressional districts
  • State
  • Major Market (DMA)
  • Metropolitan areas (CBSA)

Steps:
  1. Hover the mouse over the slider bar.

    A panel displays geography levels, such as state, county, ZIP code, census tract, and block group.

    NoteNote:

    The standard geographies are country specific and may vary based on the active country.

  2. Click a standard geography.
    Standard geography options on the slider scale bar

    The map zooms to the extent of the selected geography level.

    Map zooms to the standard geography selected

Navigate the map using the mouse

You can use the mouse to quickly navigate the map. The table below outlines mouse-clicks you can do to navigate the map.

In order to

Action

Use the mouse like this

Pan the map

Left Mouse

Click and drag the mouse to pan.

Zoom in/out from the map

Mouse wheel

Mouse scroll forward to zoom in.

Mouse scroll backward to zoom out.

Zoom in/out to an area

Mouse

SHIFT + drag the mouse to draw an area of interest to zoom in.

SHIFT + CTRL + draf the mouse to draw an area of interest to zoom out.

Zoom in and center the map

Left Mouse

Double-click to center and zoom in.

Navigate the map using the keyboard

You can navigate the map using keyboard strokes. The table below outlines keyboard shortcuts you can do to navigate the map.

In order to

Use the keyboard like this

Pan the map

Use the arrow keys to pan (Up, Down, Left, Right)

Pan northeast

Page Up

Pan southeast

Page Down

Pan northwest

Home

Pan southwest

End

Zoom in a level

Use the + key to zoom in one level.

Zoom out a level

Use the -- key to zoom out one level.

Zoom to full extent

Click F

Understanding the map cursor changes

You may notice the mouse cursor changes as your perform different functions throughout the OnSite application. This section describes the different mouse cursors you can expect to see.

Map cursor

Description

Map cursor example

Hand

The Hand cursor is the default mouse cursor. This is commonly seen when you are panning the map. You will also see the hand cursor after making a selection

Example hand cursor

Selection

You will see the Selection cursor when you are selecting a task or clicking a location on the map.

Example selection cursor

Pan

The Pan cursor is seen when you pan the map, or change the center of the map display. The cursor looks similar to grabbing the map.

Example pan cursor


2/24/2012