BRAHMS system defaults are applied by default to control Google Earth point colour, symbol, scale/size, text adjacent to points and descriptive text associated with each point (display on clicking the point). However, a number of features of the map points can be controlled from BRAHMS on a record by record basis providing you with considerable and flexibility with GE map production.
The style setting fields discussed below (MAPLABEL, MAPCOL, MASYM and POINTSCALE), can be added to your data files using the Tools > Map tools > Add/re-set map style fields option.
Map text labels
On Admin > Project configuration > Personal settings > Online maps, you can select the text option that appears adjacent to each point (the default option is No text).
If your data file includes the character field MAPLABEL, any text added here will take priority on a record by record basis. If MAPLABEL is empty or the field is absent, the general online map setting will be used for all points.
As an example, if you want to plot 100 points from a botanical record extract file and wish to print the text "DNA sample available" opposite 3 of these points but leave all the others blank, you would set the general Online maps option to 'No text', ensure that the map style fields are added to your extract file and add the text "DNA sample available" to the 3 records. In BRAHMS, you could use a function (e.g. a FoxPro command) to auto-add a text string to MAPLABEL based on any fields in your data file.
Point Scale
By default Google Earth plots points at a sensible size - the size is made relative as you zoom in/out of the map. You can make your points smaller or larger overall by adding a value to the Point Scale Factor setting on Admin > Project configuration > Personal settings > Online maps. Experiment by setting different scale factors. If your data file includes the character field POINTSCALE, this scale value will take priority on a record by record basis. If POINTSCALE is 0 or the field is absent, the general online map setting will be used for all points. In the above screen image, the records with DNA text labels have also been enlarged slightly. Part of the resulting map is displayed below.
Map symbols
Google Earth symbols are image files that must reside on a server - they cannot be local files. Default symbols are provided for selection on Admin > Project configuration > Personal settings > Online maps.
The default online files used are:
http://dps.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/resources/icon48white.png && white square
http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pal4/icon48.png && red square
http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pal4/icon60.png && triangle
http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pal4/icon49.png && red circle
http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pal2/icon26.png && white circle
If your data file includes the character field MAPSYM, valid symbol URLs entered here will be used by priority on a record by record basis. If MAPSYM is blank or the field is absent, the general online map setting will be used for all points. If you do not select one, a white circle is used.
To choose your own symbol (png, jpg, gif, etc) file, ensure that the file is located on a server and add the full path of the online image into the MAPSYMBOL field. Remember, you cannot use symbol image file stored locally. Different file types have differing qualities - although this is not further discussed here. Google default symbols are of type png.
A sample extract file with various symbols added. One of these is a new symbol (flower image) as shown below.
By default, point colour is that of the map symbol. However, you can control map point colour by adding values to the MAPCOL field. If MAPCOL is blank or the field is absent, the default symbol colour is used for all points. Colours are represented by Hexadecimal colour codes. The first two letters FF represent 100% opacity. You can enter color codes such as FFFF0000 to the MAPCOL field. By entering different codes on a record by record basis, records may be coloured differently. Here are some examples:
FFFFFFFF white (W)
FFFF0000 blue (B)
FF0000FF red (R)
FF000000 black (K)
FF33ff00 green (G)
FFFFFF00 turq (T)
Bear in mind that in general, colours work additively. Best results are obtained with the white circle symbol.
You can also represent colours by adding MAPCOL 'quick codes'. These are the single letters B, R, K, G and T (see above for colour chart).
A map of Cupressaceae specimens plotted in white. The genus Juniperus has been set to Blue and the species J. chinensis set to red.
Most aspects of map style setting are being further expanded.
BRAHMS Project © University of Oxford 1985-2011 - http://dps.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Full featured multi-format Help generator