Changing the Map Scale and Center

A paper map shows a limited geographic area. You cannot change the map extent or the size of individual features on the map. The Maptitude Online Redistricting map, however, is dynamic. You can focus in on any specific area you want, and change the map so that the features you want to see are shown at the size you want to see them.

The scale of a map is the relationship between the size of each feature on the map and its actual size on the surface of the Earth. Large scale maps make each feature look larger, and show a smaller geographic area. Small scale maps make each feature look smaller, and show a larger geographic area.

The center of a map is the location of the middle point of the map. Taken together, scale and center define the area that is included in a map.

Maptitude Online Redistricting Online Redistricting shows the scale and the longitude and latitude of the center of the map in the lower left of the map window.

Each time you change the map scale or center, Maptitude Online Redistricting remembers the previous settings. You can retrace each change all the way back to the extent that was used when the map was first opened.

You change the map scale and center using tools on the left side of the map window.

You can also use the vertical slider to change the scale from large scale, at the bottom, to small scale, at the top. As you move the box on the slider, balloon help will show the level of detail, from Census Blocks at large scale to the entire state at small scale. After redrawing the map, Maptitude Online Redistricting shows the percent relative to the scale of the whole state below the slider

To Zoom In on a Map (Make the Scale Larger)

1. Click on the left side of the map window to activate the Zoom In tool.

2. Click on a location to double the size or drag a rectangle around the part of the map you want to see enlarged.

Maptitude Online Redistricting redraws the map at the new scale.

To Zoom Out on a Map (Make the Scale Smaller)

1. Click on the left side of the map window to activate the Zoom Out tool.

2. Click on a location to halve the size or drag a rectangle around the part of the map into which you want to reduce the current map.

If you dragged a rectangle, Maptitude Online Redistricting redraws the map so that the current map area is reduced to fit into the rectangle. The smaller the rectangle is, the more the map will be zoomed out and the smaller the scale will be. If the rectangle is off to one side of the map, more features will be displayed on the other side of the map.

To Change the Scale with the Slider

1. Click and drag the box, or click inside the slider that is on the left side of the map window. If you drag the box, Maptitude Online Redistricting displays the level of detail in balloon help.

Maptitude Online Redistricting redraws the map at the new scale, and shows the percent relative to the scale of the whole state below the slider.

To Change the Center of the Map

1. Click on the left side of the map window to activate the Pan tool.

2. Position the cursor anywhere on the map and hold down the mouse button.

3. Drag the map to a new location and release the mouse button.

The location becomes the new map center.

To Return a Map to the Previous Scale and Center

1. Choose Map-Previous Scale or click on the left side of the map window.

Maptitude Online Redistricting draws the map with the extent that was used before the most recent change. You can repeat this step to continue to retrace each change all the way back to the extent that was used when the map was first opened.