Working with map layers

Map layers add significant value to maps by enhancing what you see and giving you a more complete understanding of your area of interest. Map layers are divided into four types, which include base layers, study area layers, user point layers, and annotation layers. Layers may be scale dependent, so you may need to zoom in if certain layers are disabled.

• Base -- Includes borders that are categorized by country. Business listing are also displayed when the country is set to USA.
• Studies -- Lists study areas you created. Only active study areas (study areas that are created in your current session) are displayed. You can use the Data Manager to activate previous study areas. See Managing study areas.
• User -- Lists user points you have uploaded. Only active user points (user points created or uploaded in your current session) are displayed. You can use the Data Manager to activate previously created user point layers. See Managing user points.
• Anno -- Lists annotation layers you have created. Only active annotation layers (annotations created in your current session) are displayed. Annotations are created using the Create Map Presentation task. See Managing annotations and Creating map presentations for more information.

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

• Set layer visibility
• Change the drawing order
• Zoom to a layer's extent
• Toggle label vibility

Setting layer visibility

The Map Layers dialog box lets you control the visibility of layers on the map.

Steps:

1. Click Map Layers.

   The Map Layers dialog box expands to display all layers on the map. Layers are organized into tabs, such as Base, Studies, User, and Anno.

2. Select the tab whose layer visibility you want to change.
3. Set layer visibility:
   • Check a layer to make the layer visible on the map.
   • Uncheck a layer to turn off the layer visibility on the map.

   Layers that are disabled are scale-dependent. Layers that are scale-dependent are enabled when you zoom in on the map.

   Layers with a check next to the layer name are visible on the map.

Changing the drawing order

Changing the drawing order alters the order in which layers are drawn on the map. The drawing order can affect the appearance of the map and can be modified for all layers in the Map Layers dialog box.

Steps:

1. Click Map Layers.

   The Map Layers dialog box expands to display all layers on the map. Layers are organized into tabs, such as Base, Studies, User, and Anno.

2. Select the tab whose drawing order you want to change.
3. Drag and drop a layer to the desired drawing order.

   The layer is moved to the designated drawing order.

4. Repeat step 2-3 as needed.

Zooming to a layer's extent

In the Map Layers dialog box, you can choose to zoom to the extent of a layer. This is feature is helpful to narrow the map to one layer.

Note:

The option Zoom To Layer's Extent is not available for all layers on the map.

Steps:

1. Click Map Layers.

   The Map Layers dialog box expands to display all layers on the map. Layers are organized into tabs, such as Base, Studies, User, and Anno.

2. Select the tab whose layers' extent you want to zoom.
3. Click Zoom To Layer's Extent.

   Scale-dependent layers that are disabled at large scales may display the Zoom To Layer's Extent option when you zoom in.

Toggling label visibility

In the Map Layers dialog box, you can choose to toggle the labels of the layer on and off. This is feature is helpful to understand base layer features that are displayed on the map.

Note:

The toggle label option is not available for Studies layers. The ability to toggle labels on and off follows scale-dependency of the layer. If the layer is not visible at the current map scale, then the toggle option is also disabled.

Steps:

1. Click Map Layers.

   The Map Layers dialog box expands to display all layers on the map. Layers are organized into tabs, such as Base, Studies, User, and Anno.

2. Select the desired tab.
3. Navigate to the layer whose labels you want to toggle.
4. Click Toggle label.

   Scale-dependent layers that are disabled at large scales may display the Toggle label option when you zoom in.

   At any time, you can click Toggle label on or Toggle label off to control label visibility of a layer.