Map Input Tool

The Map Input tool allows the user to draw or select a desired map object to use as an input in a workflow.  The user can draw or select a point, line, or polygon from a map that is displaying a reference base map (such as TomTom or DigitalGlobe).

You can set a reference base map as a default and even set the default map bounds for the Map Input tool from User Settings. Go to Options > User Settings > Edit User Settings and click the Dataset Defaults tab.

Configure the tool

  1. Mode: Select from one of two options for configuring the Map Input tool: .
    • Draw: Draw points, lines, or polygons (spatial objects) directly on a map. Optionally, a reference file containing spatial objects can be viewed. Spatial objects can be identified with a label, and the label is passed downstream along with the spatial object data.
      • Pan around on the map and/or use the zoom in/out slider to get the map in the desired position for object placement.
      • Click the type of object to draw on the map (point, line, or polygon).
      • Place the object by clicking directly on the map.
      • Double-click to close a polygon or complete drawing a line.
      • Once an object is drawn, you will be prompted to specify a label for the drawn object.
      • Click a map to rename, modify, or delete the object.
    • Select: ­­­­Select points and/or polygons from a reference layer. The selected objects are used as the input for the workflow.
      • Individual objects can be selected, or a bounding box can be used to select all points, lines, and polygons within.
      • Press Ctrl + Click to select additional individual objects.
  2. Base Map:: Drop-down list to specify which set of reference layers to include within the map image. The list includes all mapfile/layersets currently installed.
  3. Reference yxdb: Use the file browse to specify a yxdb with spatial objects to display on the map. The map will automatically zoom to the extent of this layer. Depending on the mode chosen, the user can select objects from this layer to pass through the tool or draw their own objects.
  4. If a user browses to a file on the Map Input tool which is on a mapped drive, then the file will not be found as it cannot exist in the persistence layer. In this instance, the file cannot be rendered, and only non-mapped files can be used.

  5. Label Field: Drop-down list of fields from the reference yxdb specified above. The user can pick a field to display on the map.