Vector Objects

Atoll can use different types of polygons, lines, and points in the map window. For example, the zones such as the filtering, computation and focus zones, described in "Using Zones in the Map Window" on page 48, are specific types of polygons.

Other types of polygons, called contours, along with lines and points, can be used to add additional information to geographic data.

Atoll provides several ways of editing polygons, lines, and points. You can move or delete the points that define polygons, lines, and points. You can edit polygons by editing the points that define them, by combining several polygons, or by deleting parts of the polygons.

Polygons, including the computation and focus zone polygons can contain holes. Holes within polygonal areas are differenti-ated from overlaying polygons by the order of the coordinates of their vertices. The coordinates of the vertices of polygonal

By default, the loaded zone replaces an existing zone of the same type. An optional merge feature allows you to merge the imported zone with the existing zone by adding an option in the Atoll.ini configuration file. For more information, see the Atoll Administrator Manual.

You can also use the File > Import menu to load zones. In this case, the imported zone always replaces the existing zone regardless of the Atoll.ini setting.

If you want to use the exported file as a digital terrain model, you must define the size of the exported image by pixel size. A geo-referenced file is then created for the exported image.

areas are in clockwise order, whereas the coordinates of the vertices of holes within polygonal areas are in counter-clockwise order.

When you no longer need the polygon, line, or point, you can delete it from the map.

This section explains the different ways of editing polygons, lines, and points:

• "Adding a Vector Layer" on page 54

• "Creating Polygons, Lines, and Points" on page 54

• "Copying Zones into Other Applications" on page 52

• "Editing Polygon Contours and Lines" on page 55

• "Creating Complex Polygons" on page 56

1.4.11.1 Adding a Vector Layer

You can add vector objects such as polygons, lines or points to geographical map information in a project by first creating a vector layer. You can also modify certain geographic data maps, for example, geoclimatic maps, by adding a vector layer to them and adding polygons, lines and points afterwards. For information on modifying certain geographic data maps by adding a vector layer, see "Editing Geoclimatic Maps" on page 122.

To add a vector layer to the Geo explorer:

1. Click the New Vector Layer button ( ) on the Vector Editor toolbar. A folder named "Vectors" is created in the Geo explorer.

2. Right-click the Vector folder, click Rename, and type a name for the vector layer.

1.4.11.2 Creating Polygons, Lines, and Points

Once you have created a vector layer, as explained in "Adding a Vector Layer" on page 54, you can add vector objects such as polygons, lines, and points to it.

To create a vector object:

1. In the Geo explorer, right-click the vector layer, and select Edit from the context menu. The tools on the Vector Editor toolbar are available.

If the Vector Editor toolbar is not visible, select View > Toolbars > Vector Editor.

2. Perform any of the following actions:

• To draw a polygon:

i. Click New Polygon ( ) in the toolbar.

ii. Click once on the map to start drawing the zone.

iii. Click once on the map to define each point on the map where the border of the zone changes direction.

iv. Click twice to finish drawing and close the zone.

• To draw a rectangle:

i. Click New Rectangle ( ) in the toolbar.

ii. Click the point on the map that will be one corner of the rectangle that will define the zone.

iii. Drag to the opposite corner of the rectangle that will define the zone. When you release the mouse, the zone will be created from the rectangle defined by the two corners.

• To draw a line:

i. Click New Line ( ) in the toolbar.

ii. Click once on the map where you want to begin the line.

You can also make the vector tools available by selecting the vector layer to edit from the Vector Editor toolbar list. Because Atoll names all new vector layers "Vectors" by default, it might be difficult to know which vector folder you are selecting. By renaming each vector folder, you can ensure that you select the correct folder. For information on renaming objects, see "Renaming an Object" on page 30.

If the polygon or rectangle is on the vector layer of a geoclimatic map,, you must define the value the polygon or rectangle represents and map the vector layer. For more information, see "Editing Geoclimatic Maps" on page 122.

iii. Click each time you change angles on the line.

iv. Double-click to end the line.

• To draw a point, click New Point ( ) in the toolbar and click once on the map where you want to place the point.

3. Press ESC to deselect the currently selected button on the Vector Editor toolbar.

1.4.11.3 Editing Points

To edit a point:

1. In the Network explorer or the Geo explorer that contains the vector layer, right-click the vector layer folder and select Draw from the context menu. The vector tools on the Vector Editor toolbar are activated.

2. Select the point and perform either of the following actions:

• To move a point:

i. Position the pointer over the point that you want to move. The pointer changes ( ).

ii. Drag the point to its new position.

• To delete a point from the polygon:

i. Position the pointer over the point you want to delete. The pointer changes ( ).

ii. Right-click and select Delete Point from the context menu. The point is deleted.

1.4.11.4 Editing Polygon Contours and Lines

You can edit the shape of polygons and lines on the vector layer by creating, moving, and deleting points.

To edit the polygon contours and lines:

1. In the explorer (the Network explorer or the Geo explorer) containing the vector layer, right-click the vector layer folder. The context menu appears.

2. Select Draw from the context menu. The vector tools on the Vector Editor toolbar are activated.

3. Select the polygon contour and edit the points of the polygon by performing any of the following actions:

• To move a point:

i. Position the pointer over the point that you want to move. The pointer changes ( ).

ii. Drag the point to its new position.

• To add a point to the polygon:

i. Position the pointer over the polygon zone border where you want to add a point. The pointer changes ( ).

ii. Right-click and select Insert Point from the context menu. A point is added to the polygon zone border at the position of the pointer.

• To delete a point from the polygon:

i. Position the pointer over the point you want to delete. The pointer changes ( ).

ii. Right-click and select Delete Point from the context menu. The point is deleted.

1.4.11.5 Creating Complex Polygons

You can create complex shapes by combining, splitting, intersecting, and substracting polygons with the tools on the Vector Editor toolbar.

You can activate the vector tools by selecting the vector layer to edit from the Vector Editor toolbar list.

You can also activate the vector tools by selecting the vector layer to edit from the Vector Editor toolbar list.

To edit a vector object using the icons on the Vector Editor toolbar:

1. In the Network explorer or the Geo explorer that contains the vector layer, right-click the vector layer folder and select Draw from the context menu. The vector tools on the Vector Editor toolbar are activated.

2. Select the polygon contour and edit the polygon by performing any of the following actions:

• To combine several polygon zones:

i. In the Vector Editor toolbar, click the Combine button ( ).

ii. Click once on the map where you want to begin drawing the new polygon zone.

iii. Click each time you change angles on the border defining the outside of the polygon zone.

iv. Double-click to close the polygon zone.

v. Draw more polygon zones if desired. Atoll creates a group of polygons of the selected and new contours. If polygon zones overlap, Atoll merges them.

• To combine two existing contours:

i. In the Vector Editor toolbar, click the Combine button ( ).

ii. Click the contour that you want to combine with the selected one. Atoll combines the two selected contours into a single object, merging them if they overlap.

• To delete part of the selected polygon zone:

i. In the Vector Editor toolbar, click the Delete button ( ).

ii. Draw the area you want to delete from the selected polygon zone by clicking once on the map where you want to begin drawing the area to delete.

iii. Click each time you change angles on the border defining the outside of the area.

iv. Double-click to close the area. Atoll deletes the area from the selected contour.

• To create a contour out of the overlapping area of two polygons:

i. In the Vector Editor toolbar, click the Intersection button ( ).

ii. Click once on the map where you want to begin drawing the polygon that will overlap the selected one.

iii. Click each time you change angles on the border defining the outside of the polygon.

iv. Double-click to close the polygon. Atoll creates a new polygon of the overlapping area of the two polygons and deletes the parts of the polygons that do not overlap.

• To split the selected polygon into multiple polygons:

i. In the Vector Editor toolbar, click the Split button ( ).

ii. Click once on the map where you want to begin drawing the polygon that will split the selected one.

iii. Click each time you change angles on the border defining the outside of the polygon.

iv. Double-click to close the polygon. Atoll separates the area covered by the polygon from the selected polygon and creates a new polygon.