USGS Massachusetts-Rhode Island Water Science Center
This is a toolbar frame of the ArcIMS® page. Each small icon represents a tool. After you select a tool, you can do many different tasks. They work similar to tools in the ArcMap®.
Toggle between Legend and Layer List - use this button to switch between the layer list with active layer and visibility options and the legend with symbology.
Toggle Overview Map - this tool opens a window that displays the full extent of the map. When a zoom tool is used, overview map uses a small, red rectangle to denote the zoom location. Click on this tool again to turn off the overview map.
Set Units - to change map units, click on this tool and select the desired units. Click the “Set
Units” button to enforce these changes, or select the “Cancel” button.
Zoom In - to zoom into an area of the map, click and drag to draw a rectangle over the
area of interest. You can also click once on the map to zoom in slightly. When the application is first opened, this tool is set to use by default.
Zoom Out - to zoom out of an area of the map, click and drag to draw a rectangle. You can also click once on the map to zoom out slightly.
Zoom to Full Extent - when clicked, this tool zooms to the extents of the entire map.
Zoom to Active Layer - to zoom to the extents of the active layer, first make a
theme active by selecting the radio button in front of the desired theme and
refresh map. Then click on the “Zoom to Active Layer” tool.
Zoom to Selected - after selecting a feature from the active layer by using the "Query", "Find", "Buffer", "Select by Rectangle", or "Select by Line/Polygon" tool click "Zoom to Selected" tool. The map will extend to the selected features. 
Back to Last Extent - the view is zoomed to previous extent.
Pan - click and drag on the display to move to the desired area of the map.
Pan to North - this button moves the map display up (North) in order to obtain a new view directly North of the current view at the same scale.
Pan to South - this button moves the map display down (South) in order to obtain a new view directly South of the current view at the same scale.
Pan to West - this button moves the map display left (West) in order to obtain a new view directly West of the current view at the same scale.
Pan to East - this button moves the map display right (East) in order to obtain a new view directly East of the current view at the same scale.
Identify - the "Identify" button allows the user to view the attributes of a particular feature. In the layer view in the far left frame select the layer desired to be active before using the "Identify" tool. It will only return attributes for the active layer. The attributes will be displayed in the text box at the bottom of the screen. If the feature of the layer for which attributes are desired isn't visible in this scale, zoom in until it is displayed, then identify it. 
Query - the "Query" tool allows the user to search for particular information about the
active theme. When this tool is selected, a query window will appear at the bottom
of the screen. To execute a query, three values need to be defined: Field, Operator
and Value. Using the drop-down menu, select the desired field to query. Then select
an operator (=, >, <, LIKE, >=, <=). Next, either type in a value, or to populate the
Value field with attributes from the active theme, select the “Get Samples” button. Use the
“Add to Query String” button to write your query statement, and then click the “Execute” button
to run your query. All entries that meet the query statement’s requirements will be highlighted
in yellow on the map. The query results will be displayed in the text box at the bottom of the screen. To zoom to these features use the "Zoom to Selected" tool or the hyperlink "Zoom to these records" on the bottom of the displayed list. To zoom to the individual selected
entries on the map, simply click on the record hyperlink (number) on the list. To refine query
results, create the additional query statements and click the “Add Query String” button, and then
execute the query. To begin a new query, select the “Clear” button. Use the “And”, “Or”, and
“Not” buttons to further customize your queries.
Find - this tool performs a quick, case-sensitive text search of the active theme. A
window is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Type in a string of characters, then click,
“Find String” button. The search results will be displayed in the text box at the bottom of the screen. Click on the
record number to zoom to that feature on the map.
Zoom to point - the pop-up window will display. A user can enter coordinates in MA state plane units and zoom to that location.
Hyperlink - displays images or web pages linked to visible features on the map.
Select by Rectangle - this tool is used to select a group of features within
the active theme. To use it, click and drag diagonally until a box is formed. When the mouse
button is released, all selected features will be displayed in the text box at the bottom of the screen. Once features are selected,
other functions can be performed on this selected set. To zoom to a
particular record, follow the hyperlink of the record number. Use this tool again to select different set of features within the active layer or use "Clear Selection" tool from the toolbar to unselect all features.
Select by Line/Polygon - this
button allows the user to create a line route upon which all "Active"
features the line crosses will be selected or to create a polygon upon which
all features touching or contained within that polygon area will be selected.
To create a line, click at least 2 points in the view and then hit the "Complete Line &
Select" button and the selected set will be highlighted and its
attributes will be displayed in the lower window. To create a polygon, click
on the view in selected points until the desired area is defined then hit
the "Complete Polygon & Select" button to highlight the selected set as well as display
the attributes. If a point is hit mistakenly, just hit the "Delete
Last Point" button to take it off. Use "Clear Selection" tool if necessary.
Calculate Polygonal Area - this tool calculates an area on a map by drawing a polygon.
You may select the Area and Perimeter Units adjusted to the map's scale. Click on the map to drop point locations for each polygon vertex. Use "Delete Last Point" option if needed. To complete polygon, select
the “Complete Polygon” button. The area of the polygon and it segment's length will be displayed on the
screen. Polygons can be removed from the map by selecting the “Restart” option in the dialog box (do not use the "Clear Selection" tool from the toolbar).
Buffer - this tool creates a customized width zone around selected features on
the map. Use a selection tool to select features of the active theme. Click on the “Buffer” tool
to set the buffer distance. The “Buffer” tool also has the ability to highlight features of an
additional theme that may reside in the buffer area. To display these attributes, select the “Display Attributes” checkbox before clicking the “Create Buffer” button. Buffers can be
removed from the map by selecting the “Clear Selection” tool.
Measure - the "Measure" button allows the user to click on 2 or more points and return the distance in the current units (see "Set Units" button). It keeps track of the length of the segment as well as a running total between multiple points. Both of these distances will be calculated and displayed at the top of the
map. To remove the line, click on the "Clear Selection" tool.
Clear Selection - this tool removes “acetate” layers, including, selections, points, lines,
buffers, polygons and labels present on the map. 
Print - clicking the “Print” tool will automatically create a printable map layout of the current view area along with a legend. The dialog box will open in the text box at the bottom of the screen. Supply title information and hit on "Create Print Page" option to open a new browser window with the map image, overview map image, legend, scale bar, and the North arrow displayed. Then, use the File/Print function from the menu bar to send the display to your printer.
Help - clicking this tool launches the Help page.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://ma.water.usgs.gov/basins/help_toolbar.html
Page Contact Information:
Page Last Modified:
March 13, 2008
