Make Maps
 Map Builder is a simple yet powerful online tool that allows users to create custom maps by choosing from a large number of maps and layers served over the web by partner organizations and others that use web mapping services.
The Map Builder only provides access to maps and layers that are served via web mapping services. There are many other maps and geo-spatial data sets available that are not served through web mapping services. However, as organizations implement web mapping services, more and more maps and layers will become available in this easy to access format.
> Start making maps now
View pre-configured map made from the many layers served by the GoMMaP partners and others with the Map Viewer.
How to Use Map Builder
Map Builder is a simple yet powerful online tool that allows users to create custom maps by choosing from a large number of maps and layers served over the web by partner organizations and others that use web mapping services.
This guide provides instructions on how to use the GoMMaP Map Builder application to create and save maps for use in Chameleon applications.
This set of tools allows you to navigate the map, change its size and get information about some features.
 Zoom In
The Zoom In tool allows you to 'zoom in', or view an area of the map in greater detail.
Instructions: Once you select the tool by clicking on the button you can use it one of two ways:
1. Click once on the map. This will zoom in on the map (by a factor of two) and recenter the map at the point you clicked.
2. Click, hold the button down and drag. As you drag the mouse you will draw a box. When you release the button the map will refresh and zoom in to the area you drew.
Notes: When you select the Zoom In tool the button will 'click in' and look like this  to indicate that it is selected.
 Zoom Out
The Zoom Out tool allows you to 'zoom out' or view a larger are of the map in less detail.
Instructions: To use the tool, select it and click once on the map.
Notes: When you select the Zoom In tool the button will 'click in' and look like this  to indicate that it is selected.
 Zoom To Full Extents
The Zoom To Full Extents tool returns the map to the original view. It is useful to reset the map after zooming or panning.
Instructions: To use the tool simply click the button and the map will redraw.
 Pan Map
The Pan Map tool allows you to see adjacent parts of the map by dragging it in any direction.
Instructions: To use the tool, select the button then click on the map, hold the mouse button down, and drag.
Notes: When you select the Pan Map tool the button will 'click in' and look like this  to indicate that it is selected.
 Identify Feature
The Identify Feature tool allows you to get information about some features on the map.
Instructions: To use the tool, select the button then click once on a feature on the map. If the feature(s) you clicked have attribute information an new window containing a table with the attributes will pop up. Here is an example of how the resulting window might look:
Notes:
- When you select the Pan Map tool the button will 'click in' and look like this
 to indicate that it is selected.
- Only features that are configured to return attribute information on the originating server will return results. If you click on features that cannot return information you will be presented with the following message in the new window:
The layers did not return any results
 Map Size
The Map Size tool allows you to change the size of the map.
Instructions: To use it select one of the sizes from the pull down menu. If you select one of the predefined sizes from the list the map will automatically change size.
If you choose Custom... a dialog box will open in which you can type in the desired width and height. Once you have entered those values, click Ok to apply the change. The dialog looks like this:
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 Add New Map Layer
The Add New Map Layer tool allows you to add new layers from WMS servers.
Clicking this button will open a new dialog containing tools for adding layers from the available servers, or from other WMS servers. For detailed instructions on using this tool click here.
 Move Selected Layer Up In Map Drawing Order
This tool moves a selected layer up in the drawing order. It is useful in arranging layers in your map. For example, if you add a layer and cannot see it in the map it is possible that it is being obscured by a layer on top of it.
Instructions: To use the tool, select a layer in the Layer Manager below the button by selecting its radio button, then click the button.
Notes: In the example below the GoMOOS: Land layer is selected. It is the layer that will be moved up with this tool.
 Move Selected Layer Down In Map Drawing Order
This tool moves a selected layer down in the drawing order. It is useful in arranging layers in your map. For example, if you add a layer and it obscures another layer on the map this tool can be used to move it below the other layer.
Instructions: To use the tool, select a layer in the Layer Manager below the button by selecting its radio button, then click the button.
Notes: See the notes for the Move Selected Layer Up In Map Drawing Order tool.
 Remove Selected Map Layer
This tool removes a selected layer from the map.
Instructions: To use the tool, select a layer in the Layer Manager below the button by selecting its radio button, then click the button.
Notes: See the notes for the Move Selected Layer Up In Map Drawing Order tool.
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 Choose a Map
This tool allows you to choose a pre-made map context file. You can select a predefined GoMMaP map from a pull down list, open a context file on you computer or open a context file from a server using a URL.
Instructions:
- To open a context file from your computer click the Browse button, navigate to the file's location then select the file and click open then click OK
- To open a context file from a remote server type or paste the full URL into the Map Context URL box then click OK
- To open a pre-made GoMMaP context file select it from the Map Context List then click OK
 Save the Current Map
This tool allows you to save the map you have created as a web map context file.
Instructions: To use the tool click the button to open the dialog then click the Save map context button. You may be prompted to open or save the file. To save the file select 'save' then select a name for the file and the location in which to save it.
Notes:
- For more information on web map context files click here
- By default the file name will be context.cml. You can keep this name or change it to whatever you like. It is recommended that you keep the .cml extension.
For more information on web map context files click here.
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This is the main map display. The map includes the layers that are listed in the Layer Manager.
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The Layer manager tool allows you to change the appearance of the map by making layers visible or invisible. Using the Layer Manager in conjunction with the tools above you can also change the order of layers and remove layers from the map. The layer manager also allows you to view metadata and legend graphics when they are available. The Layer Manager looks like this:
Instructions: In the gray bar at the top there are two icons.
 This icon indicates an active layer. Only one layer can be active at a time and you use the radio buttons below the icon to make a layer active. In the example above GoMOOS: Land is the active layer. It is the layer that will be affected by the Move Selected Layer Up In Map Drawing Order, Move Selected Layer Down In Map Drawing Order and Remove Selected Map Layer tools.
 This icon indicates layer visibility. Use the check boxes beside each layer to toggle visibility. When the box is checked like this  the layer is visible. When the box is unchecked like this  the layer is not visible.
Click on layer names in the Layer Manager to see metadata and legend graphics when available. When you click a layer name a new Layer Information window containing the information pops up. A Layer Information window might look like this:
Notes:
- Not all servers are capable of providing legend graphics so you may find that there are no legend graphics available for some or all of the layers in your map. Most WMS server software packages are moving toward more complete support of this feature and in the future there should be more and more legend graphics available. Even where software permits, it is still at the discretion of the server administrator whether or not to provide legend graphics
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The Map Information elements below the map give information about the location of your map view and the approximate scale of the map.
The key map, or reference map shows the current map view in a larger context.
Instructions: The current map view is indicated by the red box on the map. As you zoom in, zoom out or pan the box will change size and location to match the view you are creating in the main map. You can also click on the key map to recenter the main map. The map will redraw with the center at the point you clicked on the key map.
The scale bar allows you to estimate distances on the map.
Instructions: The scale bar changes as you zoom in or out on the map to reflect the current scale. You do not need to do anything to the scalebar itself, it will update automatically.
Notes:
The scale bar is a guide only as it provides approximate distances. The scale is actually different at different points on the map. The scale bar is considered most accurate at the map's center.
The Longitude and Latitude display shows the geographic coordinates of the position of the cursor.
Instructions: As you move the cursor around the main map display you will see the coordinates change to indicate the current location.
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The final two tools allow you to refresh the map and view legend graphics if they are available.
The Redraw Map button refreshes the map view.
Instructions: After changing layer visibility using the check boxes in the Layer Manager you will need to click the Redraw Map button to see your changes.
The Map Legend button brings up a new window containing legend information for the layers in the Layer Manager when they are available.
Instructions: To open the legend window click the Map Legend button. A Map Legend window might look like this:
In this example two of the layers have legend graphics and the others contain the message: Legend Not Available. The reason there is an Apply button at the bottom is because some servers may be capable of providing more than one color scheme or set of symbols for a layer. If that is the case you will be able to select the desired one using a radio button and click Apply or OK to apply the style.
You can also click on the layer names to get metadata for each layer where it is available. When you click a layer name a Layer Information window will appear.
Notes:
Not all servers are capable of providing legend graphics so you may find that there are no legend graphics available for some or all of the layers in your map. Most WMS server software packages are moving toward more complete support of this feature and in the future there should be more and more legend graphics available. Even where software permits, it is still at the discretion of the server administrator whether or not to provide legend graphics.
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