Map Elements

Layers:

The available map layers are listed in the Table of Contents on the left side of the page. Some map layers are scale-dependent and are only visible when zoomed in to a threshold map scale. Each layer has a checkbox located to the left of the layer name indicating whether the layer is currently being displayed. Select the checkbox to make the layer visible, deselect the checkbox to hide the layer.

Active Layer:

The Active Layer of the map is the layer that the current tool will act upon. Only one map layer can be active at a time. The name of the Active Layer is displayed at the bottom left corner of the page and is highlighted blue in the Layer List. To make a layer the "Active" layer, using your left mouse button click to the right of the name of the layer in the Layer List. If the layer does not appear in blue it is not active. The Selection and Identify tools operate on the Active Layer only. The Elevation layer cannot be selected as the Active Layer.

Tools and Buttons:

Tools and buttons provide additional navigation, querying and buffering functionality to the mapping application. These functions are represented by icons arraigned in a row above the map frame. Buttons affect the map when they are clicked, whereas Tools require further user input following the initial click.

Active Tool:

The Active Tool is the current tool in use. The action taken when the mouse is clicked on the map is determined by the Active Tool. Tools differ from buttons in that a Tool requires further input from the user after being selected. The Zoom-In Tool , for instance, is set as the Active Tool when the map is first opened, and clicking (or clicking and dragging) on the map with the mouse will use the Zoom-In tool.

Map Scale:

The map scale is a representation of the relationship between the size of a unit of measure on the map and a unit of measure on the ground. The scale is displayed as a unit-less representative fraction in the format 1:500 (where 1 unit on the map represents 500 on the ground). Another representation of scale can be obtained from the scale bar located in the lower left corner of the map frame.

Tools and Buttons

Zoom-In Tool:

This tool can be used in two ways, either by single-clicking or clicking and dragging with the mouse on the map. A single click anywhere on the map will re-center and zoom in a fixed amount. You can also click and drag the cursor to create a rectangle and highlight an area to zoom in to. The extent of the defined rectangle will become the new extent.

Zoom-Out Tool:

This tool has the opposite effect of the Zoom-In tool and can also be used in two ways. A single click anywhere on the map will re-center and zoom out a fixed amount. You can also click and drag the cursor to create a rectangle and highlight an area to zoom out to. The extent of the defined rectangle will determine the new map extent.

Pan Tool:

This tool is used to move and re-center the map. A single click of the left mouse button will re-center the map based on the location of the cursor click point. You can also drag the map to a new location by holding down the left mouse button while moving the mouse/map to a new location. When the left mouse button is released, a new (re-centered) map image will be created.

Zoom Full Extent Button:

This button will re-center and zoom the map out to the extent of the widest data layer contained within the map. For example, if Interstates span the entire state, the map will zoom out to that extent.

Zoom Active Layer Button:

This button will re-center the map and zoom to the full extent of the Active Layer selected in the Table of Contents. To change the Active Layer see "Active Layer" in the map elements help section.

Zoom Previous Button:

Takes you back to the last zoom extent. Allows you to retrace your steps back through previous map extents.

Zoom Next Button:

Takes you forward to the next zoom extent. Allows you to retrace your steps forward from previous map extents.

Identify Tool:

This tool is used to obtain attribute, or "Business", data (e.g., Parcel Owner) from mapped features (e.g., Parcels) of the Active Layer. To use this tool, make the layer you wish to identify Active (See "Active Layer" in the map elements help section). Next, click on the feature (e.g,. Parcel) in the map for which you wish to obtain business data. The results will appear in a new window (NOTE: if you have enabled "Pop-up Blockers" this function will not work). The selected feature(s) will blink for a short period of time. The elevation layer does not support the Identify Tool.

Select by Rectangle Tool:

This tool allows you to define a rectangle on the map and to select features of the Active Layer defined by your rectangle. Click on the map and drag your mouse to define a rectangle to select features of the Active Layer that intersect or are contained within your defined rectangle. All features of the Active Layer within your rectangle will be selected and the results will be displayed in the Search Results window (NOTE: if you have enabled "Pop-up Blockers" this function will not work). Click on the Clear Selection Tool (eraser) to remove the defined rectangle.

Select by Line Tool:

This tool allows you to define a line and to select features of the Active Layer defined by the line. Click on the map and define a line to select features of the Active Layer that intersect your defined line. Click once to begin the line, once to define each vertex and double-click to finish drawing the line. The results of your selection will be displayed in the Search Results window (NOTE: if you have enabled "Pop-up Blockers" this functionality will not work). Click on the Clear Selection tool (eraser) to remove the defined line.

Select by Polygon Tool:

This tool allows you to define a polygon and to select features of the Active Layer defined by the polygon. Click on the map to define a polygon to select features of the Active Layer that intersect or are contained within your defined polygon. Click on the map once to begin drawing your polygon and click again to define each vertex. Double-click to finish drawing the polygon. The results of your selection will be displayed in the Search Results window (NOTE: if you have enabled "Pop-up Blockers" this functionality will not work). Click on the Clear Selection (eraser) tool to remove the defined polygon.

Measure Tool:

This tool can be used to estimate measurements on the ground by drawing lines on the map. Measurements will be calculated and displayed in the status bar of your browser window. If your the status bar of your browser is not visible select View>Status Bar from your browser menu. With the Measurement Tool selected, click anywhere on the map to begin drawing a measurement line. Extend the line segment, and the length will be displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the map. Clicking again will insert a vertex and allow you to draw another line segment. The total length of the entire line will now be displayed along with the current line segment length. Double-click to finish drawing the current line segment. To erase the line click on the Clear Selection tool.

Clear Selection Button:

This button erases current selections, measurement lines, and defined shapes created by the Selection tools.

Buffer Selection Tool:

This tool allows you to buffer a selection by a distance you determine. Clicking the buffer selection tool will bring up the Select Buffer window prompting you for more specific information concerning the buffer you are creating.

‘Select Features of Layer’ – This option creates a buffer at the distance you specify and also selects features of another layer that reside within this buffer. Specify a layer to select features from and select a buffer distance. A buffer will be created that surrounds the selected map features at the distance you specified. In addition, features from the layer specified in the "Select Features of Layer" dropdown box will also be selected if they fall within the created buffer.

Search Tool:

This tool is used to query the tax parcel database to find a specific parcel based on any one of the following attributes: Tax Number, Account, GPIN, Owner Name, or Parcel Address. Selecting the Search button will open the Search Page allowing you to enter the attribute(s) you wish to search by (NOTE: if you have enabled "Pop-up Blockers" this functionality will not work). Enter the known information about a parcel and select Submit. A Search Results page will open listing the parcel(s) that match your search criteria. From the Search Results page you can zoom to a specific parcel by clicking the underlined link listed under the ObjectID field. The Search page also contains an option to highlight and zoom to the features selected by the query. Selecting this option will automatically zoom to and highlight the feature(s) returned in the query results.