Product Definitions / Maps
Warning
Map functionality is still under development, as is this page of documention.
Introduction
Clicking on the Product Definitions / Maps menu displays the Maps List page. A new NovaStar system will display an empty Maps List.
A map in NovaStar is either a background image or an interactive map overlain by a group of map points that specify data values to be displayed. Each map has a number and a unique name that should help describe the combination of background image and point display for that map. The same background image may be used beneath the display of many different data sets.
NovaStar can display map background images saved in the following formats:
- Joint Photographic Experts Group Format (.jpeg and .jpg)
- Graphics Interchange Format (.gif)
- Portable Network Graphics Format (.png)
An alternative to Administrator maps is the NovaStar Operator software, which provides interactive maps that can be zoomed and scrolled.
Map List
The following image illustrates the Map List page after a map has been selected in the list at the top of the page.
Map List (see full-size image)
Navigation, Adding, Deleting, Modifying, and Copying Maps
The Map List page conforms to a layout similar to many NovaStar data types which includes a list of data items. See List Features and Application Functionality for more information detailing page navigation; adding, copying and deleting maps; and modifying existing maps.
Adding a New Map
Clicking the Add button above the Map List on this page allows users to create a new map by entering, at a minimum, a unique map Number and Name. To complete map creation, click the Apply button to create the new map.
Identification
The following properties are used to identify the map.
Map Identification (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Number | Map number must be unique for each plot. Map numbering does not have to be sequential. After clicking Add, the next available map number will be automatically assigned. |
| Name | Map name must be unique for each map and should describe the map information displayed, including the data analysis options that have been selected for the map points. Max: 100 characters. |
| Description | This descriptive field does not display on map data display pages. Use it to describe the map functionality. Max: 1000 characters. |
Owner
The owner section defines the owner of the map and the display scope: private or public. Private scope only displays this map for the owner, the owner group supervisors, and administrators. Public scope display this map for all group members and administrators.
Owner (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| User | Owner of the map. Click the user icon  to assign the current user. |
| Scope | Public or private. |
User Groups
The User groups table shows the user groups currently assigned to the map. For more information, see the User Groups documentation.
User Groups Assigned (see full-size image)
Background
Several map background options are available:
- diagram - displays point information utilizing fundamental drawing shapes: circles, lines, etc. See Diagram example.
- map diagram - displays point information using a static image. See Map diagram example
- live map - displays point information using an interactive map background. See Live map example
Map Background (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Image | Select the image background from the list of available static images. Does not apply to Live map |
| Image class | This class can set image properties such as border thickness, type and color. The default image class is mapimage. Default class includes div.mapimage {position:relative;} a.mapimage {text-decoration:none;} img.mapimage {border:0px solid black;} |
| Color |
Diagram example
Once maps are operations, include an example here.
Map diagram example
Once maps are operations, include an example here.
Live map example
Once maps are operations, include an example here.
Location
The Location parameters allow NovaStar to correctly display map point data, based on the latitude and longitude provided during station configuration, on the background image, by locating and scaling the background image.
Map Location (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Latitude Top | Latitude for the map top border. |
| Bottom | Latitude for the map bottom border. |
| Longitude Left | Longitude for the map left border. |
| Right | Longitude for the map right border. |
| Height | Map background height in pixels. |
| Width: | Map background width in pixels. |
Latitude (positive in the northern hemisphere, negative in the southern) and Longitude (can be either positive or negative in the western hemisphere, but negative is recommended to be compatible with geographic information system software) of the map origin (the upper left hand corner of the map) are entered. The sign convention used for longitude values must be consistent with those entered for stations in order for data to appear on maps. Latitude and longitude are displayed and entered as decimal degrees.
Annotation List
The Annotation List displays the map annotation records assigned to the map being edited. Map annotations are text strings, markers, or image files that are displayed on top of the map background at the pixel position defined in the table columns: Left and Top. If links are assigned to a map annotation, the active link area can be extended to the pixel lengths by the columns: Width and Height. A marker precedes annotation text. Text overwrites an image. When a map is first defined, no map annotation records will be assigned to the map.
Annotation List (see full-size image)
Annotation List Popup
To add a new annotation, click the Add button above the Annotation List table.
To edit an existing annotation, click the pencil icon.
Map Annotation Popup (see full-size image)
The following point characteristics, which are organized on multiple tabs, can be edited.
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Type | Types of annotation: text, box, circle, triangle up, triangle down, triangle right, or triangle left |
| Left | Leftmost position of the annotation in pixels right of the left border. |
| Top | Topmost position of the annotation in pixels below of the top border. |
| Width | Optional width to extend the active link area in pixels for the annotation. |
| Height | Optional height to extend the active link area in pixels for the annotation. |
| Text | |
| Text | Text string for the annotation. Display parameter key words are available to append to the text. Click the down arrow to display the parameters and the up arrow next to the desired parameter. These key words are replaced by the map display request parameters: Map number: _MAPNUMBER Map name: _MAPNAME Ending time: _ENDINGTIME Display interval: _DISPLAYINTERVAL Data analysis: _DATAANALYSIS |
| Text class | Select a class from the map style sheet to define the text display style. The default class is maptext. This class displays the text annotation in a black, 10 point, bold font with no border./* Map text class - default for map text annotations.position:absolute; is required! background-color:transparent; is recommended */div.maptext {position:absolute;background-color:white;}a.maptext {color:black;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;} |
| Color | |
| Background | |
| Border | |
| Border width | |
| Size | |
| Style | |
| Weight | |
| Decoration | |
| Marker | |
| Marker | Select a marker to preceed the text in the annotation or none for no marker. A marker is a graphical image file stored in the NovaStar 5 or local marker folder ( /tomcat/local/markers). The annotation text is placed immediately to the right of the marker. Click the View button to display the selected marker on the browser. Right click this button to view the marker in another window or tab. Click the Upload button to upload a new marker image to the local marker folder. Click the Remove button to delete a marker from the local marker folder. OK must be clicked to acknowledge the file removal. |
| Marker Class | Select a class from the map style sheet to define the marker display style. The default style is no border and a transparent background. |
| Image | |
| Image | Select an image file name to display on the map or none for no image. An image is a graphical image file stored in the NovaStar or local image folder (/tomcat/local/images). The annotation text is placed on top of the image. |
| Image Class | Select a class from the map style sheet to define the image display style. The default style is no border and a transparent background. |
| Link | |
| Link | Enter an optional hyperlink for this annotation. NovaStar page links can be entered with no hostname path. For example to display map number 4 from this hyperlink use the link name: mapData.do?mapNumid=4. Otherwise enter the URL of the hyperlink, for example: http://www.mylink.com/thislink. |
| Link help | Enter the tool tip to display when the mouse hovers over the map annotation text, image, or marker. |
Point List
The Point List displays the map point records assigned to the map being edited. Map points define the point data analysis and data readout display styles to display on top of the map background or interactive map. A map point is displayed on the map background as a site marker covered by a text data readout. The site marker is located on the map using the point's station latitude and longitude. Hyperlinks are assigned to the map point markers and text data readouts. The default hyperlink displays the data edit page for the point and map request time period.
Map Point List (see full-size image)
Map List Point Popup
To add a new point, click the Add button above the Point List table. To edit an existing point, click the pencil icon.
Map List Point Popup (see full-size image)
The following point characteristics, which are organized on multiple tabs, can be edited.
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Point(when adding) | Select points to add to the point list from the pick list. Hold down the [Ctrl] key and click to select multiple points. Hold down the [Shift] key and click to select points from last selected to current selection. |
| Point(when editing) | Select point to include in the point list from the dropdown list. |
| Link | |
| Link | Enter an optional hyperlink for this point. NovaStar page links can be entered with no hostname path. For example to display map group number 4 from this hyperlink use the link name: mapData.do?mapNumid=4. Otherwise enter the URL of the hyperlink, for example: http://www.mylink.com/thislink. |
| Link help | Enter the tool tip for a mouse hover over the right click menu hyperlink for this point. The label field above is shown for a mouse over the point marker and data readout. |
| Analysis | |
| Statistic | Select the data analysis for the point readout. See the data analysis appendix for a description of the analysis types. Use default analysis will perform the map data request analysis selected. Any other analysis type selected will override the map data request analysis. |
| Data type | Select the type of data displayed: Scaled: Scaled or analysis value Raw: Raw data value Score: Nova score value Rating1-Rating5: Rating value 1 - 5 |
| Display Interval | Select the time interval for the data analysis. The time interval is used to compute the start time for the data analysis from the end time. Use Request Interval and Show Data Reports will use the map data request display interval if selected or 1 day by default. |
| Time Offset | Select the time offset from the map data request end time for the data analysis period, default if 0.0 seconds. A positive time offset starts in the future (After), a negative time offset starts in the past (Before). The time offset direction is selected from the After/Before list. |
| Multiplier | Multiply the data analysis computed value by this constant. |
| Adder | Add this constant to the data analysis computed value. |
| Location | |
| X Offset | Horizontal offset for the data readout text. |
| Y Offset | Vertical offset for the data readout text. Data is displayed centerd on the map marker. The X Offset and Y Offset allow adjusting the data display location. If there are two points for the same station displayed on the same map, the data readout text will overlay each other unless the points have different offsets. If the data readout text is too crowded on the map, the offsets can be used to reposition the text. A positive X Offset moves the data display to the right, a negative offset moves the data display to the left. A positive Y Offset moves the data display down, a negative offset moves the data display up. |
| XY type | Specify whether the offset is using latitude/longitude or absolute values. |
| Display | |
| Type | |
| Lower limit | |
| Upper limit | |
| Hide missing | Select true to prevent the display of missing data. This feature is false by default. |
| Marker | |
| Use score | |
| Marker missing | |
| Line to text | Select true to draw a line from the marker to the upper left corner of the data readout text. This feature is false by default. |
| Text | |
| Text Class | Select a class from the map style sheet to define the data readout text display style. The default class is mapdata in the default map style sheet. This class displays the data readout values in a black, 8 point, bold font surrounded by a 1 pixel black solid border.  /* Map readout styles for scores 1-5, 0 for missing data. */a.mapdata,a.mapdata0,a.mapdata1,a.mapdata2,a.mapdata3,a.mapdata4,a.mapdata5 {color:black;font-size:8pt;font-weight: bold; border-color:black;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;height:1;}To change the display style, create a class in the custom map style sheet. In the example below display the data readout values in a black, 20 point, bold font with 2 pixel left and right padding, surrounded by a 3 pixel light-blue inset border.  /* Map rain readout styles for scores 1-5, 0 for missing data.*/ a.maprain,a.maprain0,a.maprain1,a.maprain2,a.maprain3,a.maprain4,a.maprain5{ color:black;font-size:20pt;font-weight:bold; padding-left:2px;padding-right:2px; padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px; border-color:#00ccff;border-width:3px;border-style:inset;height:1} |
| Use score | Select true to change the text class for the data analysis score value. The score value (1-5, 0 for missing) is appended to the text class name. For example if the text class name is mapdata, then a score of 1 will use the class mapdata1, a score of 2 will use the class mapdata2, and so on. Missing data will use the class mapdata0. This feature is true by default and is used to change the background color of point text data readouts for the data score. /* Map readout background colors for scores */a.mapdata0,td.mapdata0 {color: #888888;background-color:#ffffff;} a.mapdata,td.mapdata,a.mapdata1,td.mapdata1 {background-color:#ffffff;} /* white */a.mapdata2,td.mapdata2 {background-color:#ffff44;} /* yellow */a.mapdata3,td.mapdata3 {background-color:#ffaa44;} /* orange */a.mapdata4,td.mapdata4 {background-color:#ff8866;} /* pink */a.mapdata5,td.mapdata5 {background-color:#ff4444;} /* red */ |
| Show units | Select true to append the data readout abbreviated units to data value. This feature can be used to indicate the sensor type data when multiple sensors for a station are displayed on the same map. This feature is false by default. |
| Color | |
| Background | |
| Background color | |
| Border width | |
| Size | |
| Style | |
| Weight | |
| Decoration | |
| Text missing | Set the missing data string to be displayed. Blank uses the default string "N/A". Do not use a blank string to hide missing data. Instead use the Hide missing feature below. |