What is a Map

A map in OziExplorer is an image of a map which has been calibrated (georeferenced) so OziExplorer can use any pixel position on the map to determine the true geographic position.

When you calibrate a map in OziExplorer a map file with a .map extension is created which contains the calibration information and a link to the image of the map you are using.

A Map file therefore contains at least this information

• A link to the image of the map
• The datum of the map
• The map projection used for the map
• The calibration (georeferencing) information for the map

The OziExplorer Map file with the .map extension is saved separately to the map image, so you will notice, for each map you have two files, the OziExplorer Map file and the map image. When you want to use a Map in OziExplorer you will open a Map file (example name : Australia.map).

OziExplorer then reads from the Map file

• The name of the map image file from the .map file and opens the image.
• The map datum and map projection are read.
• The calibration information from the .map file and calculates the factors necessary to convert the map image pixel coordinates to geographic coordinates.

Note: The maps you plan to use may come supplied with OziExplorer .map files.

The other method of creating maps is to import them. There are maps and charts available in digital form which have the calibration (georeferencing) for the map included either directly in the file or provided as information in an additional file. Importing these maps reads the calibration information from the map files and creates an OziExplorer Map file (with a .map extension). If you need to Import a map, see the relevant topic in the Map Related section of Help for information on this process.

Using Maps

To begin using maps with OziExplorer, you will open a .map file for the map image. If a map image does not have an OziExplorer Map file, before using it for the first time you will be required to Load and Calibrate a Map Image or Import a Map (or series of maps). The ways to access your maps are; 

• Load a map which already has been calibrated (georeferenced), where you have both the OziExplorer Map file and the image.
• Calibrate a map image and generate the OziExplorer Map file.  Once a map is calibrated it is opened with the Load Map option.
• Import maps using one of the options available. (Read the relevant topic in the Map Related section of Help for information on this process).

Lets try out some of the functions using the demo data starting with the Load a Map option described above.

Open the Demo Map

• Press the Load Button on the Tool Bar.
• Select the Load Map from File Menu Option.
• Select the demo1.map file from the file open dialog.
• The map should be displayed after a small delay while the bitmap image loads.

If you are calibrating a map image for the first time there is of course NO map file so instead of using the Load Map option, you will use the Load and Calibrate Map Image option. This is discussed in the Map Calibration Tutorial.

File Quick Save Buttons

There is a set of 3 buttons located on the right hand side of the tool bar. These are called Map, Waypoint, Event, Track and Route. When the text on a button is grayed there is no file loaded into memory (and plotted on the map). When the text is black there is a file loaded but it is the same as the data in memory. When the text is red the data in memory has been modified, in this case pressing the button will instantly save the file using the same name as when it was loaded. If the data is new you will be prompted for a file name.

Some Terms and Abbreviations

• Map Object - the Waypoints, Events, Track Points, Map Features and Map Comments are referred to collectively as Map Objects.
• Symbol - The icon (picture) used to display an Waypoint, Event or Map Feature.

You will notice the demonstration map already has some annotations on it such as "Steep track" etc. These are called Map Comments and up to 500 of these can be added to each map you create.

There are other symbols on the map, these are called Map Features and up to 500 of these can be added to a map, Map Features can be displayed with user supplied symbols or as blue circles with white numbers (the default).

Map Comments are used to show text information that you want to see at all times, usually relating to particular parts of the map. Map comments can only store text but can have any size or color.

In the Map Comments and Features Tutorial you will learn how to add these to a map or to modify those already on the map.

Common Actions for all Map Objects (Try out these operations).

• Move the mouse pointer over the top of an object, the pointer changes to a finger and a text box appears (a hint) displaying some of the details about the object, this does not apply to Map Comments.
• Pressing and holding down the Shift key and then pressing the left mouse button and holding it down allows you to drag the object to a new position.
• Pressing the right button opens a menu where you can open up the objects properties dialog or delete the object or perform other actions where available.
• Double Clicking on a Map Object opens the properties window for the object.

Click here for the Configuration Tutorial

Click here for the Map Calibration Tutorial