Explanation of how to use the TMap time maps
Introduction
Time maps are maps with the extra dimension of time. Such a map is able to
shows its subject area changing over time.
You can control the map's time through the Time
controls.
You can control the scale of the map - zooming in and out - and
what objects are shown on the map using the Map controls.
You can also select part of the map
for closer examination. You can display the names of objects using the Object
name controls.
As you move the
mouse over the controls, brief help notes about the controls appear in the Help
window. As you move the mouse over the map, the current map
co--ordinates of the cursor are displayed in the Help window.
When you open a time map by opening a web page, you will see the map displayed in the main part of the window with the
Time controls and Name controls along the top edge and the Map controls along the left hand edge.
These controls are used to set the date of the time map and to animate it
through time.
|
Date
Current date of the time map. |
Time Slider
Drag the button in the slider to change the current date. Click
on the arrows at the end to step forward or back one year. |
Auto Run
Start the map free running through
time. |
Stop Run
Stop the map from free running through time. |
Step forward
Take a single step forward in time.
|
Step Back
Take a single step back in time.
|
|
These controls are used to display or hide object names. The names of objects
on a selected layer can be made visible or invisible by clicking on the Names
on current layer button.
|
Object
names
Click on this to toggle the visibility of object
names. There are three possible states:
-
All names on all visible layers are visible.
-
Names of objects on chosen visible layers
visible
-
No names of objects visible
|
Names on current layer
To make the names of objects on a given layer visible or
invisible, select the layer in the Visible Layers list in
the Map controls and then click on this button.
|
|
|
Move the cursor over a control to display information about
it in this window. |
|
|
Return the map to its original size. |
Increase the magnification. The map zooms
in to the current centre of the view. |
Reduce the magnification. |
The objects on the map are drawn on different
layers. There are in two lists of layers. The upper list is the
Visible Layers list. The objects in these levels are
currently visible on the map.
Bring objects nearer the front by
moving its layer up the list. Do this by clicking on the layer name
to select it and then clicking on the Promote layer button.
Move objects further back by moving its layer down this
list. Do this by clicking on the layer name to select it and then
clicking on the Demote layer button.
Hide objects on the map by clicking on the layer name to
select it and then clicking on the Show/hide layer button. |
The lower list is the Invisible
Layers list. All the objects in layers on this list are
invisible until their layer is moved into the Visible Layers list.
Move an object into the Visible Layers List by clicking on its
layer name to select it and then clicking on the Show/hide layer
button. You could also make the layer visible by using the Promote
layer button. |
|
Select an area for magnification by:
- moving the mouse to the top left of the chosen area
- holding the left button of the mouse down as you drag to the bottom right
of the chosen area
- releasing the mouse button on reaching the the bottom right of the chosen
area
The picture below shows the selection identified by a rectangle as the
mouse is dragged down and rightwards.
The picture shows the result on releasing the mouse button.
You can restore the map to its original size by clicking on the Entire map
button.