MapMarker : Making Your First Map.

This is intended to be a simple guide to the options settings when creating new mapfiles.

Start MapMarker in the normal way :
cd to the parent directory, and type ./runMM.csh

You should load the image before starting any mark-ups.
Current acceptable forms are xbm's and rppms.
If you try loading a gif image, MapMarker will do an convert it into either a rppm-file (if you have the photo-widget), or an xbm-file.

If you do not change any of the default settings under the "Options" menu, anything that needs to be set is done when required.
This is the likely order of it :

  1. After creating the first object, a message box will appear asking you to insert the absolute path of a directory to point to.
    Press OK and another window appears containing an entry-box. Insert the pathname here (an example is provided in the window).
    Press OK when you are done.
  2. Another window appears asking for a specific URL for the object just created, and a comment for it (optional).
    Insert these and press OK.
    If the CANCEL button is invoked, the object will be unannotated.
  3. Each time a new object is created the window discussed in part-2 above is called.
  4. It is a good idea to save the mapfile after every 3-4 annotations.
    The first time you save, invoke the "Save_Map_As" button. When the browser appears, move to the directory you wish to save the mapfile in, and insert new filename.
    If the file already exists you will be asked if you want to overwrite it. Press either YES or NO.
    One of two things can happen here :
  5. Next you will be asked for a default html file for the mapfile.
    The imagemap mechanism uses this when an unannotated part of the image is clicked on by the user.
    It will fail if there is no default html file.
That is all there is to it. You now have a mapfile that imagemap can make sense of.


Which Mode To Use

There are two modes available.
Modify Mapfile
This is the general purpose mode, and should be used most of the time.
Map -> Image
This is the mode which saves a modified version of the image being marked up.
I recommend that you only switch to this mode when an image has been fully marked up. The reason being that a bit of image conversion software is used, so it could slow you down.

How to Use "Map -> Image"

Firstly there must exist both an image and a mapfile displayed on the canvas, and as I stated before, it is an idea to wait until an image has been fully marked up before switching to this mode.
If you now invoke the "Map -> Image" radiobutton, the following happens :
  1. A message box appears. Read it, then press OK.
  2. If the image has not previously been saved, a browser will appear. Use it in the normal way to move directories, and insert a new filename - *.rppm.
  3. Now invoke the "Save_Image_As" button in the File-menu. This will save the modified image under the name you just input.
    If the "Save" button is invoked, then the mapfile will be saved again prior to saving an image.
  4. Lastly you will be asked if you want to save a gif version of the image.
    This is useful since Mosaic displays this format as inline images. Simply answer YES or NO.
    You will then be offered a filename to save it under. At this point if you say No, you can save the file wherever is appropriate, using the filebrowser.

A Guide to the Options

There are 4 checkbuttons discussed here. Descriptions are given of when they should be in the off-state. At all other times they should be in the on position.

Single_Edit_Mode
This button should only be OFF when :
  1. Multiple objects need to be created.
    For example lots of rectangles need to be created to cover rooms in a plan of a building.
  2. The same edit function is required to be repeated at one time.
    For example multiple copies are required of a particular object (e.g. a circle used to mark water molecules in an image).
Ask_For_Absolute_URL_path
This button should only be OFF when the files you wish to point to from a particular image do not live in the same directory.
Force_Annotation
This button should only be OFF when you wish to quickly mark up an image, then step through each object one at a time annotating them.
Auto_Raise
This button should only be OFF when you want objects on the canvas to hold their relative positions in the canvas' display list.

These can all be found under the Options menu, and are all switched on by default.

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Gudge.