This page will help familiarize you with the MapMaker system. If you need additional support, please e-mail your question to mapmaker@lpnnrd.org.

Currently, you are in the MapMaker home site. When you start the mapping application, it replaces this site in your browser with the Mapping Window. The window is broken up into several parts:

Map Frame - this is the area where your maps appear.

Overview Map - this is the smaller map at the upper left corner of the Map Frame. It shows which area of Nebraska is being shown in the Map Frame. (Note: currently, only data for Southeast Nebraska is available for use in MapMaker.)

Toolbar - in conjunction with the Layer List, the Toolbar lets you use the interactive features of MapMaker. The Toolbar is located at the top of the Map Frame.

Layer List - the Layer List, located to the right of the Map Frame, shows which layers are currently available to view in the Map Frame. These layers are overlain on the main map. Some common layers are roads, streams, and cities, and there are many more to choose from.

Online Help Menu - the Online Help menu, located underneath the Map Frame, lets you access Toolbar help, Layer List help, and the Glossary while running the MapMaker application.

The key to using the full capabilities of MapMaker is understanding how to use the Layer List and the Toolbar. Together, they allow you to access the interactive features of the maps:

The Layer List, located on the right side of the Map Frame, is split up into groups (marked with folder icons). Each group contains a series of layers. To see which layers a group contains, click on the folder icon to expand it (note: functions are disabled in image at right).

Hiding/Showing Groups & Layers

Only layers or groups that are checked in the "Visible" column will show up in the Map Frame. You can choose to make entire groups visible, or only certain layers.

To make a layer or group visible, click the checkbox in the "Visible" column next to the layer/group name. The Map Frame will automatically refresh to show the new layer/group. To hide a layer/group, click the checkbox again to clear it.

Some layers only become available when you are zoomed in to a certain percentage. These layers are marked with a magnifying glass icon in the "Visible" column.

The Active Layer

One layer in the Layer List is always designated as the Active Layer. Many of the map tools can only be used on this layer. To change the Active Layer, click in the "Active" column next to the layer name. A small window should pop up with a message that the Active Layer has changed.

The Toolbar, located at the top of the Map Frame, gives you access to the interactive features of the maps. Each tool is activated by clicking on its icon. (Note: functions are disabled in the diagrams below.)

Some of the tools can only be used on the Active Layer. These include "Identify," "Query," "Find," "Buffer," "Select by Rectangle," and "Select by Line/Polygon."

For a description of the function of each tool, click on its name in the diagram, or scroll down the page.

The Legend/Layer List tool toggles the layer box on the right side of the MapMaker window between a list of the current layers and a map legend. The Layer List is the default setting.

The Overview Map tool turns the small overview map in the upper left corner of the Map Frame on or off (it is turned on by default).

The Zoom In tool allows you to zoom in on a portion of the map. With the tool active, click on the map to zoom. When you click and release the mouse button, the view will zoom in increments. If you click and hold the mouse button down, you can draw a rectangle on a specific area of the map. When you release the mouse button, the view will zoom in on that portion of the map.

The Zoom Out tool lets you zoom out on the map. It works like the Zoom In tool, except that clicking and holding to draw a rectangle will zoom out to the map's full extent (the "full extent" shows the map view with the least detail and the largest scale).

Clicking on the Zoom to Full Extent icon will zoom the map view out to its full extent (the view with the least detail and the largest scale).

The Zoom to Previous Extent will return you to your previous view if you have used one of the other zoom tools.

Clicking on the Zoom to Active Layer icon will zoom the map view to the Active Layer.

The Pan tool allows you to shift the map view in any direction. When the tool is active, click, hold and drag on the map in the direction you want to pan. The map view will continue to shift as long as you are dragging.

When the Identify tool is active, you can click on a map feature to view data about that feature. The information will pop up in a new window.

You can only retrieve information about features on the Active Layer. If you click on an area of the map where there are no features on the Active Layer, you will receive a message that says "No information found."

Clicking on the Query icon will activate a new window where you can enter information to launch a query on the Active Layer. This lets you search for specific features or groups of features. (Note: If you are unfamiliar with using Query commands, the "Find" tool may be easier for you to use.)

The "Field" menu in the Query window lets you choose what feature parameters you want to search for. For instance, if you wanted to search a City layer for the town of Wahoo, you would choose "TOWNNAME" from the dropdown menu.

The "Operator" menu lets you choose how you want to search -- for features that match your search terms exactly, for features that are less than or greater than your search terms (if you are using numbers), etc. To search for Wahoo, you would choose the equals sign (=) from the dropdown menu.

The "Values" form lets you enter your search terms. Click on the "Get Samples" to see some examples of valid terms from the Active Layer. To search for Wahoo by name, you would enter "Wahoo" in this field.

When your query is complete, click the "Add to Query String" button to enter the query. Press "Execute" to carry out the query, UnDo to remove the query, or clear to reset all values in the Query window.

The Query results will appear in the same window. The first column in each of the search results (labeled "Rec") contains a hyperlink; clicking on the link will zoom the map to that feature and highlight it.

The Find tool allows you to search for a particular feature. It is similar to the Query feature, but is more user-friendly for novices.

When you click on the Find icon, a new window will pop up where you can enter your search parameters. For instance, if you entered "Platte River" as your search terms, the results would show you all of the features on the Active Layer matching that description.

The first column in each of the search results (labeled "Rec") contains a hyperlink; clicking on the link will zoom the map to that feature and highlight it.

The Measure tool allows you to measure the distance between any two points in the Map Frame. When you make the tool active, two small windows will appear at the top of the Map Frame. The first, "Total," will show the total distance you have measured. The second, "Segment," will show the length of the segment you are selecting.

On the map, click on the point you want to start measuring from. Wait for a red dot to appear at that point, then move your mouse arrow to where you want to end the measurement (you will notice that the "Segment" window will show you the distance as you move your mouse). Click again and a red line will appear between the points. You can continue to click on different points on the map to add segments to your measurement.

The Set Units tool can be used in conjunction with the measure tool to show your measurements in different units. When you make the tool active, a new window will appear. Choose the unit of measurement you want to use from the dropdown menus and press the "Set Units" button.

The "Map Units" button will change the scale bar on the bottom right of the Map Frame; the "Display Units" will change the units used for your measurements or for adding a buffer around features (see next).

The Buffer tool allows you to highlight a specified area around a map feature. The feature must be selected to add a buffer. Selections can be made with the Query, Find, or Select tools; selected features are highlighted on the map.

With a feature selected, click on the Buffer icon. A new window will appear where you can select the feature you want to buffer. From the dropdown menu, choose the layer that contains your selected feature. Enter the distance you want to buffer, then press the "Create Buffer" button. The buffered area will be highlighted on the map.

The Select by Rectangle tool allows you to select specific features on the map. When you select a feature, a new window will pop up that shows the attributes of that feature, and the feature will be highlighted on the map. You can only select features on the Active Layer.

To select a feature, click the Select by Rectangle icon. With your mouse, click, hold, and drag to draw a rectangle around the feature you want to select.

For more precise selection of features, use the Select by Line/Polygon tool. Only features on the Active Layer can be selected.

When you make the tool active, a new window will appear. Using your mouse, click on the point you want to start from on the map, then click at different points around the feature to draw a line or polygon around it. If you make a mistake, click the "Delete Last Point" button in the Select window. When you're done, click the "Complete Line & Select" or "Complete Polygon and Select" button to make the selection. The feature's attributes will appear in the Select window, and the feature will be highlighted on the map.

The Clear Selection tool will clear any selected or highlighted features on your map, such as measurement lines, buffers, selections, etc.

The Geo-Code tool allows you to enter a street address and ZIP code. If the address/ZIP code is within the "NRD Streets" coverage, it will be highlighted on the map.

The Print tool allows you to print out the current map view. When you click the Print icon, a popup window will appear where you can select your paper size, desired image quality, and the title you want on the map.

When you have chosen the options you want, press the "Create Print Page" button. A new browser window will open with the page specifications you chose. Use your browser's "Print" command to print out the map.

The Online Help menu, located underneath the Map Frame, lets you access the Toolbar Help and Layer List Help information on this page while running the MapMaker application. Clicking on one of the links will bring up the help files in a smaller popup window, leaving the Mapping Window running.

The "MapMaker Home" link will let you return to this site. You can choose whether to bring this site up in a new window and leave the Mapping Window running, or to close the Mapping Window and replace it with this site.

Ready to get started using MapMaker? Click here to launch the application. Remember that you can always refer back to the information on this page using the Online Help.

More questions? Contact us at mapmaker@lpnnrd.org for additional support.