D.

Creating a new feature or boundary file

Typically, in working on building up information for a finished map, you may well want
to use an Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 map as a backdrop on the computer screen. Your
own features, or layers of information, can be built up on top of this base or bottom later
map. For example, you might want to show the boundary of an industrial waste tip, your
PCT boundary, local Sure Start areas boundaries, local GP Practice or Pharmacy sites, to
create a particular road route or place a buffer zone around a road, and so on.
The process of creating new features, or layers of information, on the PC screen is known
as 'head up digitising'. You are effectively tracing the information you want to show on
the screen map, by using your mouse, with the screen map as your original base or bottom
layer. It can be great fun - though doing it accurately is not as easy as it looks !
To create a new feature, layer, file or set of information, first open an OS map file (as
already shown), other file, or an existing workbook, and zoom the OS map to the size you
want to see on the PC screen.

Making a map editable

In order to digitise, or create a new map feature, you need to make the PC screen map
editable. In other words, you are telling the computer you want to be allowed to draw on
the screen using the mouse.
As used before, click on the layer control button

,(

(or map layer control).

The layer control dialogue box appears on the screen, as shown below.
There are four symbols, of which at the moment just focus on the left hand two - which
show an eye and a pencil.

By clicking on the left hand side cosmetic layer box (below the pencil), you have
instructed the computer to let you edit or create a new map on the screen. You can now
'write' on the map screen, using your mouse.

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Layering multiple maps parts onto each other

The layer control tick boxes beneath 'the eye', show which of your opened files are visible
or not. Clicking on and off the boxes will affect what is seen on the computer screen.
Each open file, map or created boundary can be seen as a different layer, each sitting on
top of each other (or in the case of your available OS maps, sitting adjacent to each other
seamlessly).
By highlighting an individual layer - click on the name on the left side of the layer control
box - you can reorder the visible layers, using the reorder up and down buttons, thus
varying how layers appear on top of each other.

Clicking on the display box enables layers to be made see through, change colour, and so
on. This is detailed later on, to show area, line and point shapes.

Creating new features on a map

The following examples show how an area, line or particular point location can be created
on a new map. Areas and lines are known as vector layers, in that once created, as you
zoom in and out of them, they change size to fit the map scale. Such features are no
different to creating box and line shapes in a word processor or desk top processor
package. However, within the GIS, they have exact grid reference co-ordinates, lengths
and spatial data attached. The following process is used to create the pre-digitised map
boundary files you will typically use within Public Health analysis.
The MapInfo toolbar includes the following buttons,
from left to right - point shape, straight line, polyline
(or 'wiggly' line), curved line, polygon shape, and so
on.
By clicking on any button, a specified new feature
or layer of information can be placed on a map.

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E.

Creating a new area layer on a map

An industrial waste tip, or an estate boundary, are typical examples of an area

or polygon shape. As already shown, open the OS map you want to use as a
base to trace or digitise from. Make the map (the cosmetic layer) editable.
Click on the polygon button. A 'cross hair' cross shape appears on the screen.
Using the mouse, place the cross hair where you want to start digitising, and carefully
make multiple clicks - using your mouse - around the object (say the garden boundaries
of the estate) which you want to trace. By placing the last cross hair click on top of the
first, the polygon will complete itself. Alternatively double click the last mouse tick, and
the polygon will join up automatically.
Your area shape will look something like the example below.
You can change the boundary line size, and colour, and see through property of the layer
by highlighting the polygon (or region) and changing its style.
This is achieved as follows :

Click on the main menu select button, which looks like an

arrow (its always useful if you get confused what button you
are using to reclick this arrow and start again)

Double click anywhere inside the object you have created (now highlighted, and within
four small squares - as shown above). This brings up the region object box. Now click
on the style button.

You can now change the style, or look, of the feature you have created.

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Changing the colour, shading and width of polygon area boxes

The style box is the key to changing the colours and attributes of the layers you build
(area, or line).
It is comprised of two main parts.

Fill lets you change the pattern which fills the

area you have created. The top left square
option, N lets you make the object see
through or clear. Any other option places a
pattern within the area. Experiment to find
what you like most. Some options cannot be
seen through, others are transparent.

Border lets you change the colour, weight

(thickness) and type of line surrounding your
area, for example a field.

Again, experiment, to find what combinations

look best to the eye.
These options will be those used should you say
want to create PCG or PCT boundaries and
highlight each area in a different colour.
However, it is best to use a consistent approach to the layers you create, making each
group of boundaries the same. Additionally, if merging maps with adjacent Local
Authority or Health Authority boundary files, consistency should be maintained.

Snap to command
Particularly when creating area features such as contiguous
administrative boundaries, you are likely to want to build up areas
(say wards) which sit next to each other. In order to alleviate
creating unwanted slivers between polygon shapes, use the snap
to command. Press S on the keyboard (or S again to switch off).
Snap appears on the bottom of the MapInfo page. Now you can create polygons which
share a side; As you move along a perimeter line, a large cross hair appears and
boundaries merge as you click with the mouse.

Reshaping lines
By clicking on the area or line you have created, two useful
MapInfo buttons let you reshape or add points (nodes) to the
feature you have digitised. Use the select arrow to highlight
your feature. Then click on the add node or reshape icon to
make any necessary digitising changes.

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Area and distance measurement

Note that the region object box also gives the
area and perimeter length of the area created.

By using the map options main

menu
it is possible to change the distance and
area units to whatever is required
(eg acres and metres)

F.Saving new layers (area, line or point)

Once you have created one or more similar boundary features, save them as a new layer.
NOTE : You can either save every feature you create as a separate layer, or you can save
a group of similar features (created on the cosmetic layer) together.
Use the main pull down menu command :
map save cosmetic objects
Save the new feature either as a new feature, or
incorporate it within an existing layer of
information.
This process is used when saving new area, line
or point map layers.

G. Making changes to saved layers

Having created and saved a new layer of map information, you may well want to come
back to the layer and make changes. Initially, map layers, once saved as a file, are not
editable - to protect them. The MapInfo menu bar does not give access to the buttons
which enable you add or alter features in a layer. The button options are greyed out - as
below. However, changes can be made to layers using the layer control box option.

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When building a new map layer from scratch, you ticked on the box lying alongside the
cosmetic layer (or PC screen) and beneath the pencil (edit) picture. The new layer was
saved using map, save cosmetic objects.
To edit a saved or existing layer,
now tick on the box linking that
particular layer to the edit (pencil)
picture. In the right hand side
example, three map layers are visible
(ticked beneath the eye). In addition,
the box linking the layer westybdy to
the edit (pencil) column has been
ticked. Thus, changes can be made to
this layer.
Features can be added,
or amended or deleted.

Saving changed layers

To save the changes you have made to an existing layer, use either the main menu
command
File save table or,
file save copy as
'File save table' saves changes within the
existing file name. Press save.
'File save copy as' lets you save the file
under a new name (or save any other file
under a new name)
You will be asked which table or layer of
information you want to resave. Choose
the one you have been working on.

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H. Creating a new line layer on a map

A road network is a good example of a vector line layer created within a GIS.
The process for creating a line shape or feature is similar to the process used
for creating a polygon shape. Instead of clicking on the polygon button,
click on either the curved polyline shape button - likely to be used most often or, occasionally the straight line button.
Draw the line, using clicks of your left hand mouse button, following a feature on the OS
map which is being used as the tracing backdrop.
Again, double click to finish the feature. Now click the select button, and
double click on the line.
Examples of :

Straight line
Curved line
Bendy polyline

The polyline object box shows the

length of the line created.
By clicking on the style option box,
as with areas, a number of options
mean that you can change the
colour, width and style or
characteristic of a line.
Examples are shown right.
Save lines, as with areas, using the

map save cosmetic objects command.

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The ruler button

The ruler button offers an alternative way to view the distance between two or
more locations within your map. Click on the ruler button, and click on the
two points on your screen map which you want o measure.
The result is shown within the ruler menu

I.

Creating a new point(s) on a map

Points on a map can be

created in the same way as
lines or area shapes.

For example, you may want to

show the location of GP practices,
local hospitals and so on.
When double clicking on a created
point, a range of symbols can be
shown.
Save as before.

Experiment with using the wide range of symbols available within different font sets.

Style options
Area, line and point style options can be changed as previously shown, using the style
box menu options.
Alternatively, by first clicking on the appropriate menu bar button, the default style can be
set in advance.

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