All locations in the map are associated with a layer (even the “Default” layer). Adding Layers to the map definition is optional but allows you to control various aspects of the way location layers are displayed.

On the Layers page, manage the Layers that you wish to control. fMaps will automatically handle all other layers found in the data.

The Select Layers option determines the behaviour of the Layers box. If set, then checkboxes are provided alongside each layer to let the user select the layers to include in the map (On or Off). If not, the Layers box acts as a legend.

“Off” Layers lets you decide whether to hide the unselected locations from view, show them in subdued colours, or let the user choose the behaviour, when a layer is “Off”.

For each layer:

The Name of a layer must correspond exactly to a layer expected in the map’s location data.

The Label is how the layer will be referred to in the map page.

Click on the “Edit Layer” button to manage the details of a layer.

Click on the “Edit Line” button to manage the line that links locations for a layer to another location.

Click on the “Edit Link” button to manage the link for a layer.

Drag layer blocks up and down to change the order in which they will appear to the user on the map page

Note that there are some designated layer names for specific purposes:

• Landmark – points are inactive and are for display only
• Areas – each location represents an area in an Areas map
• Heat – locations form part of the heat / density layer

Edit Layer

This page has the settings for a specified layer.

Specifying layers is optional but lets you control how a layer looks and behaves.

Enter a Label for the layer

The Type is only used to control how the layer’s locations are displayed. Landmark layers are inactive points. If you do not specify a type, the layer will be included in the heat layer (if appropriate).

If available (e.g. not for Heat layers), you can select an Icon for the layer.

If the icon displayed for the layer is capable of being coloured, you can allow fMaps to set the layer colour automatically, or select a colour yourself. Click on the hue bar or enter the hue value you wish to use.

The Title is the text to be shown as the point’s title using placeholders for any columns/fields in the location data. Defaults to #Title#

The Summary is text to be shown as the point’s summary text in the points box using placeholders for any columns/fields in the location data. Defaults to blank

The Info Box is valid HTML to be used to display a popup window when the user rolls the mouse over a location icon in this layer. Placeholders may be used to include any value from the corresponding location record (e.g. #FieldName#)

The Exclude From View option stops locations in the layer from being used to determine the map’s display area (otherwise the map is automatically zoomed to fit all included points).

Edit Link

This page specifies the link to be actioned if the user double-clicks on a location in the layer (in the map or the Points box). In a ‘Menu’ type map the link also works on a single click.

Choose a Link type to determine the action required:

• fMaps (default) opens a map.
• fPanels open a presentation.
• fDocs generates a document
• fSheets generates a spreadsheet.
• Menu open an fSeries menu.
• URL opens a web link.
• JavaScript executes some JavaScript code.
• Infobox fixes the map point’s infobox, disabling all other rollovers until the point is clicked again.

Depending on the type selected you will be required to enter the action:

• fMaps – select a map from the list
• fPanels – select a presentation from the list
• fDocs – select a template location and template file from the lists
• fSheets – select a template location and template file from the lists, OR select a DSD to generate an automatic spreadsheet for the DSD
• Menu – select a menu from the list
• URL – enter the URL (parameters entered separately will be added to the URL you enter)
• JavaScript – enter the script to be executed
• Infobox – no further entries are required

Certain other settings and options will change according to the link type selected.

The Parameters are a list (one per line) in the form key=value of the parameters to be passed to the link. Use #name# placeholders to insert values from the location’s data columns.

Validation is a JavaScript validation statement. If present it will be evaluated and must return true for the link to be executed.

Replace indicates to open the link by replacing the current page, or to open a new window.

The Target is optional and is the name given to the opened page if the link is not replacing the current page.

Edit Line

This page specifies that a line is to be drawn between points in this layer and other points.

Specify the Unqiue Id to specify that the lines are to be shown. This is the column in the locations data for this layer that contains the value to be used to identify the location that will be the other end of the line.

For example, if this layer is “Pupils” then specify the “SchoolId” column to say that each pupil should be linked to the School point that has the corresponding School Id as its Unique Id.

Choose a Route Mode to specify the type of line to be drawn:

• Direct (default) draws a stright line between the two points.
• Walking plots the best walking best between the points.
• Driving plots the best walking best driving the points.

The Line Colour is the normal colour of the line.

Highlight is the colour of the line when the mouse rolls over or clicks the location.