The Navigation Toolbox
The Navigation Toolbox provides tools for adjusting your view of the map and measuring parts of the map.
Figure 1. The Navigation Toolbox
The Zoom In tool allows you to zoom in on any part of the map. To zoom in, click the Zoom In tool and then click the map location that you want to zoom in on. Alternatively, click and hold the mouse button to drag a box that defines the area that you want to zoom in on.
The Zoom Out tool allows you to zoom away from the map. To zoom out, click the Zoom Out tool and then click the map location that you want to zoom out from. Alternatively, click and hold the mouse button to drag a box that defines the area that you want to zoom out from.
The Pan tool lets you navigate around the map. Use the Pan tool by clicking and dragging the mouse on the map. The area of the map that you grab will end up wherever you release the mouse button. For example, if you want to move north (up the map), click and hold near the top and drag the map down.
The Zoom to Full Extent tool is a quick and easy way to zoom out as far as possible. Click the tool and the map will zoom out to its maximum extent. This is especially useful when you want to make a fresh start without losing the changes you made to the map.
Use this tool to see a list of a feature's attributes. First make the feature's layer active and then click the feature whose information you want to see.
The Identify Visible Features tool identifies features from all the layers that are currently visible. Click the tool and then click a location on the map to see the attributes of all the features that are visible at that location.
The Measure tool allows you to measure areas (polygons), distances (lines), and coordinates (points) on the map. Click the Measure tool to open the Measure window.
Figure 2. Measure Window
1. Measure Coordinates
To view the coordinates of a particular location, click the Measure Coordinates tool ( 
) in the Measure window and then click the location on the map. The coordinates for that location will display in the Measure window.
2. Measure Distance
Distance is measured as a sequence of line segments that you draw on the map. To measure a distance, click the Measure Distance tool ( 
), click one end of the path you want to measure, and then click the first point where the path changes direction. Continue clicking points until there is one point left. You can undo points by right-clicking if you make a mistake. Double-click the last point to end the measurement.
The results of the measurement are shown in the Measure window. To change the unit of measurement, select the unit from the drop-down list. To save the measurements to a file, click the Export Measurement button ( 
).
Figure 3. Measure Distance (detailed)
3. Measure Area
Area is measured as the area within a polygon that you draw on the map. To measure an area, click the Measure Area tool ( 
) and draw the polygon just as you would draw a polyline. Double-clicking closes the polygon and ends the measurement. The results will be shown in the Measure window.
When you click the Magnify tool, the Magnifier window (Figure 4) appears on the map. To magnify an area, click and hold the grey bar at the top of the Magnifier to drag the window on top of the desired location. You can change the degree of magnification using the drop-down list at the bottom of the window.
Note that when you increase the magnification, the current map is not simply enlarged. Rather, new map data are displayed, often showing additional features that are not visible at a smaller scale.
Figure 4. Magnifier Window
Map Back
Clicking the Map Back tool will return your map to the previous extent that you viewed. For example, if you are currently viewing the map extent at a scale of 1:250000 and you zoom to 1:100000, clicking the Map Back button will return the map to the previous scale (1:250000).
If you have used the Map Back button, clicking the Map Forward tool will return the map to the next extent.
The Map Grid tool allows you to overlay a grid on the map. Click the Map Grid tool to open the Map Grid window and specify the size of the grid.
Depending on how your site is set up, the grid can either be static or dynamic. A static grid changes scale with the map, so the grid lines are farther apart when you zoom in and closer together when you zoom out. A dynamic grid always shows roughly the same number of lines when you zoom in or out.
Figure 5. Map with Grid
The Zoom to Coordinates tool allows you to zoom and center the map at particular coordinates. You can enter the coordinates as latitude and longitude; as degrees, minutes, and seconds; or as map units (x,y coordinates). Click the Zoom to Coordinates tool to open the Zoom to Coordinates window and enter the coordinates. The map will zoom to and label the coordinates on the map.