GIS HELP

The major features of the GIS Data Viewer are identified in the graphic below, along with a brief description of the features to the right. See the Tool Bar and Layer List & Legend descriptions below.

GIS Data Viewer Layout

Map Title Bar = Displays the name of the map project.

Map Display = The map display view window.

Layer List & Legend = Lists all data layers available to use and view. For a detail description on how to use the Layer List functions, see below.

Overview Map = Displays the overview of the map with only initial extent.

Refresh Map Button = After you make a data layer "Visible" by clicking on the box next to the layer's name, you need to press the "Refresh Map" button in order for the map to display the data layer you want to see.

Help Button = Brings you to this help link.

Home Page Link = Brings you to our home page.

Scale Bar = Displays the mapping scale of the Map Display.

Pan Direction Bar = Moves the map to four different direction: East, West, North, Soulth,

Data Info Link (Metadata) = This is a link to information about the data that is listed as a link in the Layer List. Click on one of the layer to see the Metadata.

Tool Bars = Displays various buttons that allow you to interact with the map, such as zooming in and out or pan around the map. For a detail description into each one of the tool's functions, see below.



Tool Bar Description

Zooms In - Zooms in by clicking on or dragging a box on the map
Zooms Out - Zooms out by clicking on or dragging a box on the map
Full Extent - The full extent button is used to return to the full extent of the map frame or the visible data.
Pan- The pan button is used to pan or move by dragging on the map in the desired direction
Identify - The identify button is used to view attribute data from the point where the user clicks within a feature. Data will be shown for each of the visible layers that contain information at the specified point where the user clicked.
Query - The query tool is used to perform a query on the active data layer according to defined criteria. "What are you querying for?"
Measure - The measure tool is used to measure distance on the map. Click once to set the point of origin and then continue clicking to mark endpoints. Use the clear button to clear the measured lines. A dialogue box appears on the top left showing the distance measured.
Buffer - The buffer tool is used to create a circular area of a defined radius around the selected feature of a map layer that was a result of a query or selection.
Select Rect. - The rectangle select tool is used to select a rectangular area and display all the attribute data of the active layer selected.
Clear - The clear button is used to clear highlighted/ selected features in the map frame. (This is mainly used after a query or selections have been performed, and the user wants to clear his/her selection or query).
Locate Address - The locate address button is used to perform a search for a specific house/businesss/property by entering its address. This tool can only be used with the street/ road layer that have a geocoding service started.
Print - The print button is used to print the current map frame along with the legend. This is a preset Layout that the Interactive Map Application creates.

 

Layer List & Legend Description

Every Layer that is listed is a useable data type in the map. Each layer has two interactive modes: "Visible" and "Active." (Image types like the "Hillshade Relief" or satellite images do not have attributes, therefore do not have an active mode.)

The "Visible" box column allows you to make a specific layer visible by checking on the box to the left of the layer you wish to see.

The "Active" Check box allows you to make a specific layer active to work with certain tools in the Tool Bar area. For example, if you wanted to find out what the attributes are of the "Parcels" layer, you would have to check of "Parcels", then click on the Identify Tool in the Tool Bar, and then, click on the parcels feature in the map to view the attributes in the Text Display area.

REFRESH MAP Button: The Refresh Map button is very important and is used often. You MUST use the Refresh Map button after you have made a Layer either Visible or not, in order for the Map Display to reflect your command. For example, if you click on the Visible box for the "Water" layer, you MUST click on the Refresh Map button in order for the Map Display to show the "Water" layer. Likewise, if you want to make a Layer not visible.

Every Layer that are visible and also the selected features can be seen in the "Legend Tab"

The "Help Tab" consists of a brief description.

 

The "Glossary" Definitions of Some Technical words

 

 

If you have any questions Timucin.Bakirtas@njmeadowlands.gov or call at (201)460-2807