GIS Help Pages

Welcome to the new GIS Web site. This new version has some different features on it than the previous version of the Web site. The graphic below shows a sample page. We invite you to explore the capabilities that are available in this version by using the help pages, and just navigating the site in general. Please let the GIS staff know if you have any questions.

Map Content Tabs

The Map Content Tabs allow you to navigate the maps table of contents. The table of contents is the space below the tabs.

Maps Tab

The Maps Tab allows you to choose the map you want to view. The graphic below shows that the current active map is the General Maps. However by clicking your left mouse button on any of the other headings in the table of contents area a new map will draw with pertinent geographic data.

Layers Tab

The Layers Tab lets you control the content of your current map. By un-checking any of the boxes located next to any of the text in the Maps Table of Contents you can turn off map layers , which prevent them from drawing in your current map. And by checking any of the boxes you can turn map layers on, which allow them to draw in your current map.

Legends Tab

The Legends Tab allows you to view the type of symbols that are being used for the geographic data that is being mapped or displayed.

Tools Dropdown Menu Buttons

Click on the button you need help with or scroll down to find it.

Zoom In

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This button allows you too zoom in to the map to increase the detail shown. Click on this button, then either:

1. Left-click with your mouse a single point on the map. A new map will come back that looks closer than you were before and centered on the location you clicked at.
2. Left-click with your mouse at a point on the map BUT HOLD your finger on the button, drag a rectangle on the map and then release the button. A new map will come back roughly in the area of the rectangle you have just drawn.

Zoom Out

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Click the Zoom Out button and then click on your map or click and hold your mouse button to drag a rectangle on the map to zoom out of an area.

Pan

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Click the Pan button and then click, hold, and drag on the map to display a new area.

Zoom to Full Extent

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This button allows you to see the full extent of the geographic data used in the map.

Identify

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This button allows you to view attribute information about the geographic data displayed in the map. It works by simply clicking the tool button then clicking on an area in the map that you want information on. Once you have clicked on the map a new window will appear with results of your identify.

Identify Results Window

Measure

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This button allows you to measure distances, areas and get x,y coordinates. Click on the tool and a small pop up window will appear in the center of your map. The window contains 3 measuring tools, each displaying different types of information. Click on any of the 3 tools and an output window will appear to show the results of your measure operations.

Point Measurement

The point measure tool will produce an output giving the user x,y coordinates. Because the City of Fort Collins uses the State Plane Colorado North coordinate system all x,y coordinates are displayed in feet as opposed to decimal degrees commonly seen on GPS devices.

Line Measurement

The line measure tool will produce an output distance in miles but can be changed by the user to suit specific needs. Changing the output units is done by clicking the dropdown list next to the total length, and then selecting the desired units. Any existing measurements will be converted for the user if a measurement operation has already been performed.

Polygon Measurement

The polygon measure tool will produce an output perimeter distance in miles, and an area output measurement in square miles. And like the line measure tool units can be changed using dropdowns listing possible unit conversions. Any existing measurements will be converted for the user if a measurement operation has already been performed.

Export

The export tool allows users to export the current map view into a jpeg file that can be printed.

View Dropdown Menu Buttons

Show Overview Map

This tool turns on an overview (birds-eye view) map. The initial location of the overview map window is in the center of the main map and will require the user to move the overview map window to another location.

The Overview Map is a small map and shows a birds-eye view of features (like the city streets) on a broad scale. A red box shows the extent of the current Map Display (this may be hard to see if you are zoomed in really close). Resizing the red box will cause the main map to zoom in or out.

You can also use the overview map to pan your main map around. This is done by holding your left mouse button down while your mouse cursor is within the red box, with the left button being held down drag your mouse to move the red box to another part of the map. Both overview map and main map will redraw to a new map area.

Previous Extent

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This tool allows users to go back to their previous map view or extent.

Refresh Map

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This tool allows users to simply redraw their current map.

Clear All Highlighted Features

This tool will clear any geographic features that have been selected or highlighted while the users was using the identify tool.

Search tools

This tool will allow users to search for addresses, cemetery plots, intersection and parcels. The graphic below illustrates the steps for completing a search. The map will automatically pan and zoom to a successful search.