What is a Map Template?

On a day-to-day basis users wish to print a wide range of maps for showing the location of particular sites, the extents of particular features (e.g. Nature Reserves, proposed by-passes, vegetation type coverage) and for illustrating proposals in reports. Most of these maps are similar in that they may require titles, a legend, map scale, logos, copyright notices etc. A map template provides a pre-prepared design layout, which can include some or all of these components.

How can the Map Templates module help?

The map templates module can simplify the task of creating a map print-out by producing a standard layout at a user-defined scale, which saves time and reduces the chance of errors or omissions.

Creating a map layout from scratch every time a print is required can be time consuming and confusing, leading to mistakes or poorly presented maps at non-standard scales. Using the templates module, a variety of standard and specialist map layouts can be created for different purposes, paper orientations and sizes. Users can select their required map layout from an unlimited list of user configurable layouts, and then be automatically prompted for variable text such as titles and notes. This ensures that presentable standardised maps can be created at the desired scale and with a minimum number of mouse clicks. All maps produced using the templates module will have a standardised and professional ‘look and feel’.

Using Map Templates

Create a map from a template by pressing the button. A dialog box will open asking you to select from the pull-down list of available templates (below). Templates are set up by your System Administrator. Additional templates can be created as required.

The first option is only displayed if a single map object is selected. If the template has been configured to use an expression for a variable value then the data for this value will be automatically supplied for that variable.

The second option allows non-selected objects on the map layer containing the selection to be omitted from the printed map. E.g. you may only want to display a single planning application and not other applications on neighbouring or the same site.  Note that the same effect can be achieved by clicking the ‘Show Only’ button in the map window before going to the template.

The particular captions and number of fields shown is dependent on the template set-up, as customised by your system administrator. Default values may already be entered in some of the fields, but these can be edited, and you should complete any white boxes by typing the relevant information into the fields or choosing from the pull-down lists.

Titles and scales will be saved for multiple maps created during one MapLink session, but will return to default values in subsequent sessions.

At this point you may wish to edit your map further. Select the appropriate drawing or text tool to add text and graphical objects to the map preview. Note that any annotations or features added here will not be saved in either the MapLink workspace or the template definition, and will be displayed on the current map only.

Button	Function
Select	Select objects in the map template.
Zoom In	Zoom in to an area of the template. Select the tool and click on the map to double the scale or click and drag to zoom into a specific area.
Zoom Out	Select the tool and click on the map to halve the scale or click and drag for a dynamic zoom out.
Pan	Move the map relative to the map window.
Print	Send the completed map to the Printer. Opens the standard Windows Print dialog.
Page Setup	Set the paper, orientation and margins
Text	Place text onto the map preview. This may be a particular comment or observation relevant to the map printout.
Point	Add point symbols to the map preview.
Polyline	Draw linear features on the map preview.
Polygon	Draw closed boundaries on the map preview.
Close	Use this to close MapLink and return to the host database.

On the left of the template window is a further set of tools which allow you to modify the map within the template.

Template tools

Button	Function
Zoom In	Increase the map scale. The scale is doubled each time you click on the map.
Zoom Out	Decrease the map scale. The scale is halved each time you click on the map.
ReCentre	Select this tool to re-centre the map. Click the button and then click on the map point you wish to centre on.
Reposition	Use this tool to set a new coordinate as the map centre and a new map scale.
Add North sign	Add a north sign to the map. Click on the button and then click on the template to position the north sign. You can modify the size and the symbol by using the main Select Object button and then double clicking on the symbol.
Save as Layout	Saves the current layout to a .lay file. Layout files can be used with the optional add-on exeGesIS Templates module.
Return to Map	Closes the print template and returns to the map.

To change the style for text, points, lines or polygon objects, or the north sign draw the object as usual and double-click on it to access the standard MapInfo 'Set Symbol Style' functionality.