Using the Map Tool

The Map tool shows geographic points on a map, represented by push pins, which correspond to selected entities within a model. Using latitudes and longitudes, the map is updated dynamically as you select entities on the canvas. Likewise, the map automatically zooms in and out, based on the locations of the selected entities, to display all of the selected entities at one time. When you click a push pin, any connections to other push pins will be drawn on the map. This pane is on by default but can be toggled off and on using the Map button on the Tools ribbon of the View tab.

If your model contains Latitude and Longitude fields, the Map tool will detect them and automatically use that data to identify the locations of the selected entities. If your model does not contain those fields, use the Options drop-down to point the Map tool to the fields that contain latitude and longitude data.

The Map tool provides the following features on the Map pane:
  • Zoom control—Enables you to set one of the following zoom levels for the map: neighborhood, city, region, state, or world. You can also use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out.
  • Pan control—Enables you to pan across the map in four directions by clicking one of the arrows. Alternatively, you can move the map itself by holding down the mouse button and dragging in any direction. You can also click anywhere in the map to shift the focus to that area.
  • A selection of view options that vary depending on which provider you select. These are the default options:
    • Road View—Displays the map in a traditional view, using vector imagery of roads, buildings, and geography.
    • Aerial View—Displays the map using satellite imagery and highlights roads and major landmarks among the satellite images. Also provides the option of showing labels on the map, including the names of streets and the names of companies that reside in the building that is labeled.
    • Bird's Eye View—Displays the map using imagery captured from low-flying aircraft. While aerial views show a top-down perspective, bird's-eye images are taken at an oblique 45-degree angle, which enables the showing of sides and roofs of buildings. Details such as signs, advertisements and pedestrians are clearly visible.
The Map tool provides the following on the Options pane:
  • Latitude: Select the property that contains latitude data.
  • Longitude: Select the property that contains longitude data.
  • Provider: Select the provider whose map data you want to use.
  • Distance unit: Select whether the units should be displayed in miles or kilometers.
  • Show map controls: Check this box to show or hide the zoom and pan controls, the view-select command bar, and the latitude/longitude coordinates.