The Edit Window

Edit Windows are where individual assets, such as Tracks, Projects and User Maps, are viewed and edited.

Example Edit Window - Global View

All edit windows share the same basic layout, with different display and editing options available for different asset types.

The main area within an edit window contains a graphical view of the asset(s) to be edited.

This area can be zoomed (using the mouse wheel, or one of the zoom tools), and panned (using the mouse in Pan mode).

Toolbars for selecting the mouse mode (2) and selecting display options (3, 4, 5) are displayed at the top-left, and left of the screen respectively.

All asset edit windows, with the exception the the Global View and Background Images, have properties that can be edited in the Edit Panel. The edit panel shows the properties for whichever edit view is active, and can be opened by clicking the Edit tab (6).

Edit windows can be made full-screen by using the F11 button. Press F11 or ESCAPE to exit full-screen mode.

1. Edit Window Tab

Tab shows the icon of the edit window asset type, the asset name ("Global View" in the above example) and, for all edit windows apart from the global view, a Close button. Individual edit windows can be arranged by dragging the tab to a new position within the workspace; see Application Layout.

Note that all edit updates to assets are saved as they occur, so changes do not need to be explicitly saved before a window is closed.

2. Mouse Mode Selector Toolbar

The mouse mode selector toolbar is used to select what operation the left mouse button performs within the main editing area. The available options vary depending on the asset type being edited; the options shown above are common to most asset edit windows. The mouse cursor within the edit area changes to reflect the selected mode, and the selected mode is highlighted within the toolbar; in the example above, Select mode is active.

·The mouse wheel is always used for zooming; push the wheel forwards to zoom in, and backwards to zoom out.

·The right mouse button is used to activate a Context Menu. If the mouse pointer is over an asset, then an asset specific menu is shown, otherwise the screen-level context menu is shown.

·The view can be panned by using the middle mouse button, regardless of the currently selected mouse mode.

(1) Select

Select is the default mouse mode. In select mode, a single click of the left mouse button selects an item in the display, if the item is selectable. If an item can be edited, double-clicking the left mouse button on the item will open that item for editing.

(2) Zoom Box

A Zoom Box is used to zoom the edit area to fit a rectangular area drawn by holding the left mouse button down and dragging the mouse.

(3) Pan

In Pan mode the entire contents of the edit area can be "grabbed" and panned. Note that the view can also be panned by using the middle mouse button, regardless of the currently selected mouse mode.

(4) Region Select

The Region Select tool is used to select multiple items within the edit area. All items are selected within a rectangular region defined by holding the left mouse button down and dragging the mouse. Operations that can be performed on the selected assets vary according to the asset type(s) selected, and the type of edit window in use.

(5) Drop Waypoint

Clicking the left mouse button when in this mode drops a Waypoint at the point underneath the tip of the mouse cursor. The Edit Waypoint window is displayed, where further information, such as the waypoint name, can be entered.

(6) Ruler

Measure a distance between two points. Click and hold the left mouse at the start point and move the mouse pointer to the second point; the ruler updates as the mouse is moved.

Notes on measuring distances

The measure tool measures the shortest distance between two points on a constant bearing (along a rhumb line). This is not the same as the shortest geographical distance (great circle), although the difference is not significant at the short distances typically required for measuring maps, waypoint distances etc. Another effect of this behaviour is that distances shown on the ruler tool may appear to reduce as the ruler length is increased to over half the circumference of the earth. This is because the calculated distance is the shortest distance between the two points, and becomes shorter going the other way around the earth.

3. Map View Toolbar

The Map View Toolbar is present on all edit windows, and provides options for controlling how the map area is displayed.

(1) Fit Window

Zoom the display area to fit the geographical extent of the asset being edited.

(2) Show Grid Lines

Show or hide the map grid lines, and vary the frequency of the lines. A slider is shown when this button is pressed. Moving the slider to the right increases the density of grid lines shown on the map. Moving the slider all the way to the left removes the grid lines entirely.

(3) Zoom

Another way of zooming the map. A slider is shown; moving the slider to the right increases the zoom level, whilst moving the slider to the left zooms out. Zooming using the zoom slider is centred on the middle of the edit area.

(4) Show Background Map

Show or hide the background map using the Show Background Map toggle button. The map which is shown is selected in Global Settings.

(5) Show Boat Position

When connected to an NMEA 0183 data source that provides GPS position and sounder depth data, boat position and a data overlay panel containing position and depth can be configured using this option. See Live Data.

4. Waypoints Toolbar

The Waypoints Toolbar is used to configure which waypoints are displayed in the current view, and how they are displayed. The waypoints toolbar is present in all edit windows. See also Waypoints and Waypoint Sets.

(1) Lock or Unlock Waypoints

Locking waypoints prevents them from being dragged by the mouse (when using the Select tool), which is useful to prevent accidentally moving waypoints. Use the Lock or Unlock Waypoints button to toggle the waypoint lock; the icon will change to an unlocked padlock when waypoints are unlocked.

Waypoints are locked by default; a large padlock is superimposed on the edit area when trying to drag a locked waypoint.

(2) Show or Hide Labels

Show or hide waypoint name labels using the Show Labels toggle button. Note that display performance can be reduced if a very large number of waypoint labels is shown on screen.

(3) Waypoint Size

Waypoints can be shown in two sizes; large and small. Use the Waypoint Size toggle button to switch between the two.

(4) Show or Hide Waypoint Sets

Toggle the display of individual waypoint sets within the edit area. A list of avaiable waypoint sets is shown when the Show or Hide Waypoint Sets button is pressed. Toggle the display of individual waypoint sets individually using the check-boxes shown next to each waypoint set. Use the Show All or Hide All buttons to show or hide all waypoints.

7. Background Images Toolbar

The Background Images Toolbar is used to toggle the visibility and adjust the transparency of images within the current edit area. See also Background Images.

When the Show or Hide Images button is pressed, a list of all available images is shown.

·Image visibility can be toggled for individual images using the check-boxes adjacent to each image, or for all images using the Show All or Hide All buttons.

·The opacity of individual images can be changed using the Opacity slider shown to the right of the image name.

The Context Menu

The screen-level context menu can be activated using the right mouse button whilst the mouse pointer is held over open space in the graphical edit area; i.e., the pointer is not held over an asset. Different asset edit windows have different options available in their context menus, with some operations common to most asset types.

The example image above shows the screen-level context menu for the track edit window, whose options are common to most asset types;

(1) Export or Delete the current asset

Export or delete the current asset (a warning window is shown).

(2) Select mouse mode

The options are the same as those in the mouse-mode selector toolbar.

(3) Undo or Redo a recent edit operation

Asset specific undo or redo of edit operations. Note that not all edit operations can be undone.

Keyboard Shortcuts

·Edit windows can be zoomed by using the + or - minus keys. Hold down the CTRL key in conjunction with the + or - key to increase the zoom amount.

·Edit windows can be panned by using the arrow keys. Hold down the CTRL key in conjunction with an arrow key to increase the speed of the pan.