Query Manager and MARPLOT Tutorial: Using MARPLOT

How to Use Watershed Specific Map Layers

The watershed projects selected have additional MARPLOT layers beyond the standard shoreline and water layers.  These supplemental layers will not display automatically until they are turned on (see steps below). A project's supplemental MARPLOT layers may include Superfund sites, USGS quadrangles, outfall locations, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), ESI habitats, etc.

To view these supplemental layers in MARPLOT:

1. Run a query in Query Manager
   
2. Select the MARPLOT menu and click Show All on Map
   
3. When in MARPLOT select the List menu
   
4. Select Layer List
   
5. Browse the layer list and place a check in show or Range column of the map layer you would like to view  
   
6. Select OK;  MARPLOT will then redraw the map showing the selected additional layers

Displaying Results using MARPLOT

1. Finish a query in Query Manager so that the query results are displayed as a spreadsheet table. Use the MARPLOT menu at the top of the Query Manager window to select Show All on Map to see the full set of data points in your query result. Alternatively, select a single record in the Query Manager data table, and select Show Selected on Map to see only that record on the MARPLOT map.
   
2. The MARPLOT mapping program will open. (The first use of MARPLOT will display a white splash screen identifying the creators and version number of MARPLOT. Click OK at the bottom of the screen.)
   
3. MARPLOT will then display the data records that you have selected from the query results. (If the dataset is a large set of records, there may be a pause before the data are visible.)

   Note: Data points from Query Manager may not be visible if the scale of the map is set to a low setting. See User Tips below for more information.

Displaying Other Query Results

Query Manager allows the user to retain numerous queries in the Query Manager window as separate sub-windows. You may select any previously created query to be mapped in MARPLOT.

1. Use the 'Browse' menu in Query Manager to view the list of your queries available in the current session of Query Manager. The available queries are titled by the category and query, in addition to a numbered sequence showing the order of creation.
   
2. Select the query results that you wish to open.
   
3. From the 'MARPLOT' menu, select Show All on Map.
   
4. The MARPLOT mapping program will open. (The first use of MARPLOT will display a white splash screen identifying the creators and version number of MARPLOT. Click OK at the bottom of the screen.)
   
5. MARPLOT will then display the data records that you have selected from the query results open in Query Manager. (If the dataset is a large set of records, there may be a pause before the data are visible.)

Query Manager's MARPLOT Menu

• Go to MARPLOT... will either open MARPLOT and start the program, or place it on top of your desktop if it is already running.

• Get Info on Selected MARPLOT Object... displays the complete query results for the data point(s) currently selected in MARPLOT. This tool is only available when data points have been selected in MARPLOT. (Use the Query menu to select Browse All to return to the full dataset.)

• Show Selected on Map... displays only the selected record in MARPLOT.

• Show All on Map... displays the complete dataset in MARPLOT.

• Rescale When Show on Map... [On/Off] automatically adjusts the scale of the display in MARPLOT so that all records are displayed. If this option is not selected, MARPLOT will retain the previously established scale when displaying subsequent data..

• Set Show Names Scale... lets you set the scale in MARPLOT at which data point labels are displayed.

• Set Icons > Dots Scale... lets you set the scale in MARPLOT at which data point symbols are displayed.

MARPLOT Functions

Some commonly used tools are located on a toolbar at the upper left of the MARPLOT window:

• Select Arrow  allows you to drag a rectangle to select data records. You are then required to select a data layer. (The selected objects appear with red corner tics.)
  
• Pan Hand  allows you to pan across the image using the mouse's button.
  
• Zoom In / Zoom Out Magnifiers  allows you to change the scale of the display.
  
• Measuring Ruler  allows you to measure the distance between location on the display. This information appears in the lower left hand corner of the MARPLOT window and is displayed in terms of radius and true bearing.

Other common functions of MARPLOT's menu:

• File  allows you to set application preferences, print, save and import/export graphics.
  
• Edit  allows you to cut, copy and paste.
  
• View  includes many tools to refine the display of the map, such as adding legends, adjusting scale, displaying the entire extent of selected layers, etc.
  
• List  allows you to create, edit, remove or hide layers. Select the Layer List option to see the list of layers. Uncheck the layer in the 'Show' column to improve draw time.
  
• Objects  allows you to change the display properties of the currently selected objects.
  
• Sharing  allows communication with Query Manager.
  
• Help  includes a hyper-linked Help document.

User Tips

General
• Develop the habit of quitting Query Manager before you quit MARPLOT to avoid adding an unreferenced layer in the MARPLOT map.
  
• If the current scale is low, you may only see dots, without labels. You can adjust the scale at which dots become icons and at which data points are labeled. Use the 'List' menu to select Layer List. In the middle of the bottom of the window, click on Scale Ranges. Move the 'handles' up or down relative to the 'Current Scale:' mark on the scale bar.
  
• Press ESCAPE in MARPLOT to stop a map from drawing. Uncheck layers from the 'Show' list in the Layer List of the 'List' menu to speed drawing time.

To remove "empty" layers that have been created in Marplot:

1. In Marplot choose the Layer List option form the List pull down menu
   Highlight  the "empty" layer and confirm the # of Objects in the layer is 0
   
2. Click the padlock symbol to unlock the highlighted layer
   
3. Click the Delete button
   
4. Click the OK button when the dialogue box appears confirming the removal of the "empty" layer
   
5. Click the OK button to return to Marplot

To remove "empty" maps that may have been created in Marplot:

1. In Marplot choose the Map List option form the List pull down menu
   
2. Highlight  the "empty" map and confirm the Status of the map is "Not Found"
   
3. Click the Remove button
   
4. Click the OK button when the dialogue box appears confirming the removal of the "empty" map
   
5. Click the OK button to return to Marplot

Continue the Tutorial

Query Manager and MARPLOT Tutorial: Introduction