Overview
This article provides an overview of the new toolbars in the TOPO! Explorer desktop application. For assistance using these tools please refer to other articles in the Application How-To section of this site.
Step-by-Step
The TOPO! Explorer application contains two main toolbars (top and left) and a third pop-up menu (bottom) which is activated by the use of certain tools. The top bar, referred to as the tool bar, contains round icons for the map editing tools. The left bar, referred to as the navigation or content menu, contains four distinct buckets that connect you to the web, your content library, your current active Trip File, and any connected GPS receivers. The bottom pop-up menu, referred to as the "control or detail menu," is visible when editing specific content such as waypoints, routes, symbols, notes, etc..
Tool Bar
The "Tool Bar" displayed at the top of the TOPO! Explorer application contains 10 round icons. Clicking on an icon activates a particular tool for creating custom maps. Starting from left to right the tools are:
- Tour:: Launches the Tour creation menu. Tours are virtual slideshows "like a highlights reel" of content included in a Trip File. Tours enable web site visitors to get a "tour" of what your file contains, or what your trip is all about. Creating a Tour enables the author to show off their favorite photos, their great cartography, and more. When played on the site - Tours move the user from "highlight to highlight" while automatically re-centering the map.
- Share:: Launches the Trip File sharing menu. This menu walks you through the steps to prepare your Trip File for the website. You can also access this menu by clicking the Share/Save button on the bottom of the left-navigation menu. Sharing a Trip requires you to title, describe and finally position your map for the web. You can also specify which image to use as your thumbnail and the map zoom level that a visitor will start with.
- Print:: Launches the Print menu. Here you can specify your printer, page sizes, and orientation. In addition, you can preview your map, add coordinate grids and marginalia like scale bars, or change the scale.
- GPS:: Launches the GPS menu. This tool and menu enables you to import and export content from your GPS receiver. Once connected your GPS will also appear in the left-navigation bar's bottom bucket titled "Import/Export".
- Pan:: Activates the Pan Tool. The Pan tool is a simple "grabber" hand which enables you to move the map in any direction. Simply place your cursor on the map, hold down the mouse button, and either pull or push the map in the direction you wish to move it. Double-clicking with the Pan tool zooms the map in one level at a time.
- Select:: Activates the Select Tool. The Select tool enables you to select content you've added to the map, such as a waypoint. Once selected you can edit that particular item. While the select tool is active, you cannot pan the map by holding down the mouse button. Instead position your cursor towards the edge of the map in the direction you wish to pan. Your cursor will change to a black arrow, which upon holding down or double-clicking the mouse button will scroll the map in that direction.
- Waypoint:: Activates the Waypoint Tool. Your cursor will switch to a cross-hair upon activating. Simply move your cursor to where you wish to create a waypoint and mouse-click. The Waypoint will be placed on the map using the default symbol. By selecting the "Down Arrow" icon next to the Waypoint Tool Icon you can pre-select a different symbol to use for your new waypoint.
- Route:: Activates the Route (aka: drawing) Tool. Upon activating your cursor will turn into a horizontal pencil. Position the tip of the pencil where you would like to begin drawing a freehand route, or trail. Hold down the mouse button to engage the pencil. Move the mouse, while holding down, to draw. Selecting the down-arrow icon next to the Route Icon enables you to pre-select the route color and type before drawing.
- Text:: Activates the Text Tool. Simply move your cursor to where you wish to post a label and mouse-click. An "untitled" text box will appear on the map. Begin typing to add text. To edit simply click the text box with the Text tool (it will turn yellow) begin typing.
- Help:: Pressing this button takes you here! To the Help Wiki that is where you can browse and search for how-to articles.
Navigation / Content Bar
The Navigation / Content Bar on the left side of your screen contains four sources of content for your maps. Each bucket has it's own title followed by a yellow down-arrow icon. Clicking the yellow icon collapses that bucket.
- TOPO.COM:: This bucket contains three links to core parts of the topo.com website. When you click any of these the main map portion of the application screen switches to a browser window for the website. "My Account" takes you to your account page where you can review your purchases, update your profile, review messages, and enter serial numbers. "Explore TOPO.COM" takes you to the "explorer" page where you can browse maps anywhere in the US and locate Trip Files for download. Consider this link your gateway to finding updated trails and content. "Map Store" takes you directly to the SuperQuad selection and download page. Here you can redeem map credits you have or purchase more.
- Library:: This bucket quickly jumps you to the core building blocks of making trip files. Selecting anyone of the four options will open the bottom pop-up menu for investigating and editing Library items. Clicking "Maps" will fill the pop-up menu with a list of the SuperQuads you have purchased and downloaded. Clicking on a SuperQuad name will reposition your map at the center of the SuperQuad at the USGS 1:100,000 scale level. Selecting "Trips" will provide you a list of Trip Files that you have either created or downloaded from the website. By clicking a Trip in the pop-up menu list your map is repositioned and you are provided the thumbnail description and the opportunity to Open that Trip file. "Photos" in your Library are a compilation of all photos you've either drag-and-dropped to Trip Files, or those that came with the download of a Trip File from the website. GPS Tracks are tracks which you have imported from your handheld GPS receiver.
- Trip:: This bucket shows you the contents of your currently OPEN Trip File. You open a Trip by either selecting one from your Library, or by default when you start adding content to the map through the use of the tools or importing. Additionally, if you have other TOPO! products and open a .TPO file, it will be automatically converted and its contents will appear in this Trip bucket. Clicking any of the seven options will display its contents in the bottom pop-up menu.
- Import/Export:: This final bucket on the left navigation-bar contains two options for adding content to TOPO! Explorer and exporting it. The GPS Connect icon enables you to see if a GPS device is connected to your computer, and upon clicking you can browse it's content for addition to your maps. Nearly all GPS receivers enable you to export Routes, Waypoints and Tracks to TOPO! Explorer. Additionally through this icon you can transfer waypoints, routes, and tracks back to your GPSr. The File- New or Open option enables you to open a .TRP, .TPO,. KML or .GPX file that you have saved locally, or you can use this option to clear the contents of your current Trip File and start a new.
Pop-Up Bottom Menu
- The bottom pop-up menu appears anytime you select a content option from your Library, Trip, or GPS. Additionally it appears when working with tools that are creating new content, such as the route, text, or waypoint tool. In all instances this menu enables you to manage these content pieces. Options for each of the tools are described further in the how-to section of this site, for this article will cover the basics of working with this menu.
- Viewing the Menu:: You have three display options for viewing this menu, which are controlled by the up and down arrow icons found on the menu's title bar. You can display this menu in full screen, half screen, and minimized mode by simply click the arrows in the direction you want the menu to expand or contract.
- Thumbnails and Lists:: You can view the content in three different view types, controlled by icons to the right of the Menu Title. These views are list, gallery, and single thumb. The list view provides a separate line item for waypoint, photo, etc... The gallery view provides thumbnail images and titles for all items (great for reviewing photos), the single thumb view shows you one item at a time. You can toggle between these views by simply selecting its icon.
- Deleting:: This menu enables you to delete items. To do so, simply check the "select" box next to the item you wish to delete and click the "delete selected" button found on the menu title bar.
- Search:: Still in development the search dialogue box on the menu title bar will enable you to search your content for particular items by name or keyword.
Applicable Products
This how-to article pertains to the following TOPO! products:
Further Reading
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