SMS:Map Module Tools

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The following tools are contained in the dynamic portion of the Tool Palette when the Map module is active. Only one tool is active at any given time. The action that takes place when clicking in the Graphics Window depends on the current tool. The following table describes the tools in the map tool palette.

Tool	Tool Name	Description
	Select Objects	The Select Objects tool allows selecting multiple types of feature objects at the same time from the same tool. The selection information at the bottom of the screen changes if multiple types of objects are selected to show how many of each object is selected. The right-click menu changes to match the selected object type. If multiple feature object types are selected, then the right-click menus will be combined.
	Select Feature Point or Node	The Select Feature Point or Node tool is used to select stand alone feature points or the ends of arcs. A single point is selected by left-clicking directly on it. Multiple points can be selected at once by dragging a box. To drag a selection box, left-click and hold the button while dragging the mouse to the appropriate dimensions; release the button to enclose and select the contents. Additional points can be appended to the selection list by holding the SHIFT key while selecting by any method. Selecting new points without holding the SHIFT key will first clear the selection list and then add the newly selected points. A selected point can be removed from the selection list by holding the SHIFT key as it is reselected. Pressing the ESC key will clear the entire selection list. Right-clicking will open a menu specific to this tool. Feature points are locked so they are not accidentally dragged. When a single point is selected, its location is shown in the Edit Window. The coordinates can be changed by typing in the edit field. The Graphics Window’s status bar will display information on the selected items depending on the settings find through the File | Info Options command in the File menu. Selected points can be deleted by selecting the Edit | Delete menu command on the Edit menu, by pressing the DELETE or BACKSPACE keys, or from the right-click menu. Arcs attached to the deleted points are deleted. This tool is available when one or more feature points exist.
	Create Feature Point	The Create Feature Point tool is used to place new feature point in the current coverage. A single point is created at a time by left-clicking at the coordinate desired. The newly created point is selected to allow Z coordinate changes in the Edit Window. This tool is always available, however, creating a feature point is only allowed while in plan view.
	Select Feature Vertex	The Select Feature Vertex tool is used to select one or more vertices on an arc. These vertices define the shape of the arc. The vertex may have a "z" elevation specified, but no other attributes are associated with the feature vertices.
	Create Feature Vertex	The Create Feature Vertex tool is used to create a new vertex on the interior of an arc. The vertex is created at the current arc location, but can be selected and moved to change the shape of the arc. The vertex may have a "z" elevation specified, but no other attributes are associated with the feature vertices.
	Select Feature Arc	The Select Feature Arc tool is used to select one or more existing feature arcs. This is typically done to assign attributes to an arc or delete the arc. A single arc is selected by left-clicking directly on it. Double-clicking on the arc will bring up the arc attributes dialog or that arc. Multiple arc can be selected at once by dragging a box. Additional arcs can be appended to the selection list by holding the SHIFT key while selecting by any method. Selecting new arcs without holding the SHIFT key will first clear the selection list and then add the newly selected points. A selected arc can be removed from the selection list by holding the SHIFT key as it is reselected. Pressing the ESC key will clear the entire selection list. Right-clicking will open a menu specific to this tool. Feature arcs may have elevations associated with the arc as an entity. This is independent of the node and vertex elevations. When a single arc is selected, its elevation is shown in the Edit Window. The coordinates can be changed by typing in the edit field. Multiple feature arcs may also be selected to create a feature arc group to associate attributes with a string of arcs rather than a single arc. These arcs must connect end to end. The arc group is created from the Feature Objects menu command. The Graphics Window’s status bar will display information on the selected items depending on the settings find through the File | Info Options command in the File menu. Selected arcs can be deleted by selecting the Edit | Delete menu command on the Edit Menu, by pressing the DELETE or BACKSPACE keys, or from the right-click menu. Nodes attached only to the deleted arcs are deleted. This tool is available when one or more feature arcs exist.
	Create Feature Arc	The Create Feature Arc tool is used to create a new feature arc.
	Select Feature Arc Group	The Select Feature Arc Group tool is used to assign attributes to a string of arcs. The group must be created before it can be selected as a group. The attributes of the group then operate just as if the group was a single arc.
	Select Feature Polygon	The Select Feature Polygon tool is used to select polygons to assign attributes to them. The attributes associated with the polygon depends on the coverage type. Double-clicking on the polygon will invoke the polygon attributes dialog for the polygon. Multiple polygons may be selected just as with arcs and nodes. The polygons must be created using the Feature Objects | Build Polygons menu command.
	Create 1D Grid Frame	The Create 1D Grid Frame tool only appears when the coverage is associated with a 1D grid model (GenCade). This tool is used to create a guide for the 1D grid that will be generated for a coastal morphology analysis.
	Select 1D Grid Frame	Only appears when the coverage is associated with a 1D grid model (GenCade). This tool is used to select/edit the grid frame that is used to generate the 1D grid.
	Create 2D Grid Frame	Used to create a new grid frame for the creation of Cartesiona grids. This tool is only available for coverages related to Cartesian grid models. The grid frame is defined by clicking three times in the graphics window. The first click defines the origin. The second click defines the I axis of the grid frame (both extents and direction). The third click defines the extents of the J axis. The direction is set to be perpendicular to the I axis.
	Select 2D Grid Frame	Allows selecting a grid frame and altering its position, orientation and size. This tool is only available for coverages related to Cartesian grid models.
	Select Compass Plot	Allows sellecting a compass plot on a spatial data node. Available when using the Spatial Data coverage.

General Tool Right-Click Menus

The following is a list of options that appear in every tool's right-click menu:

• Clear Selection – Undoes the selection of the object that was clicked on.
• Invert Selection – Selects every object of the same type selected, and undoes the selection of the object that was originally selected.
• Zoom to Selection – Causes the object selected to fill and be centered in the Graphics Window.

Tool Specific Right-Click Menus

Each tool in the Map module has its own right-click menu. When the object is selected, one can right-click and a menu will appear. The following is a table showing all of the different tools of the Map module with their respective right-click menus.

Tool	Tool Name	Right-Click Menu
	Select Feature Point or Node	Convert to Vertex/Vertices – Converts node(s) to vertex/vertices. Will not be available when selecting a point. Delete – Deletes node(s). Transform – Moves the node(s) either by scaling, translation, or rotation. User specified. See Data Transform for more information. Copy to Coverage – Brings up a Select Coverage dialog. The selected object will be copied to the selected coverage, including all attributes where applicable.
	Select Feature Vertex	Convert to Node(s) – Converts Vertex/Vertices to node(s). Delete – Deletes vertex/Vertices Transform – Moves the vertex/vertices either by scaling, translation, or rotation. User specified. See Data Transform for more information.
	Select Feature Arc	See the article Arcs for more detailed information. Create Arc Group – Creates a group out of two or more arcs selected together. Delete – Deletes the selected arc(s). Split Arc(s) – Sub divides arc(s) at the vertices arcs based on a maximum length or at sharp corners. See Split Feature Arcs Utility for more information. Offset Arc(s) – Invokes the Offset Arc dialog which prompts for offset distances and options to create one or more arcs offset from the selected arc(s). See Offset Arcs for more information. Align Arc(s) with Contour – Moves the nodes and vertices of the selected arc(s) to the closest points on a contour at that value. See Align Arc With Contour for more information. Redistribute Vertices – User specified distribution of vertices. Vertices can be evenly distributed based on spacing or number of vertices desired. See Redistribute Vertices for more information. Reverse Arc Direction – Reverses direction of arc. The arc direction only impacts the direction of extracted 2D plots and the direction for defining a domain. See Reverse Arc Direction for more information. Smooth Arc(s) – Repositions each vertex on an arc to smooths the arc(s). See Smooth Arc for more information. Prune Arcs(s) – Removes concave sectiosn of an arc. See Prune Arc for more information. Transform – Moves the arc either by scaling, translation, or rotation. User specified. See Data Transform for more information. Attributes – Type specific. Many types do not have any attributes in their arcs. See Arc Attributes Dialog for more information. Select Connected Arcs Turning Left – Selects the arc to the left of the originally selected arc. See Select Connected Arcs Turning Left for more information.
	Select Feature Arc Group	Delete – Deletes Feature Arc Group(s).
	Select Feature Polygon	Delete – Deletes Feature Polygon (not the arcs that make up the polygon). Attributes – Model specific.
	Select 1D Grid Frame	Properties – Invokes the Grid Frame Properties dialog that allows specifying the location, orientation, size and spacing of the grid frame using text fields; Specific to 1D grid coverages.
	Select 2D Grid Frame	Type Specific Properties – Invokes the Grid Frame Properties dialog where the 2D grid frame properties can be edited. Model specific.

Related Topics

• Map Module