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Quick Help

To quickly learn how to use the application, refer to the screenshot of the application and the numbered definitions below. It may take some practice, but anyone can make maps and charts using this application.

First select the region of interest on the map itself
You can zoom in on your region of interest by clicking on the state or region, or by "drawing" a box around the region by clicking to one side of the region and then holding down and dragging with your mouse. This will create a red box arond your region and when you let go, it will zoom to that area. (Use Comprehensive Help if you need a fuller explanation.) There is a "Zoom Out" option if you zoom in too far.

  1. Select the features to be displayed in the Show Legend box: You may select multiple features (also called "layers"), but we suggest you start out by just doing one at a time. Starting with "counties" will give you the most mapping options. You must click on Refresh (near the top of box #1) to reload the map with the new layers you selected.
  2. Add geographic units to "My Region: Drop down the menu under "Select a Mapping Tool" and pick from the options such as "Add a County to my region." Then click on the map on the counties for which you want data, to make the selection happen. Your selected geographic units will be listed in the box at the upper right under "My Region."
  3. Select the format for the data
    When you have selected the geographic area for which you want data, pick "region data on maps" or "region data on charts" from the menu on the left. A new screen will load where you can select from drop down menus the data you would like to see. Once you select the data item desired, click on "Make Map" and the map will appear in a few moments. You will then have an option (in the #3 area of the page) to add the map to a report that you can later download as a pdf file. You may continue to make as many maps and charts as you'd like to, adding your selections to the report, or printing them. You will be able to delete maps or charts from the report before downloading, if you want to.

Experiment, and remember that Comprehensive Help will give you extensive information on each option offered in this tool. However, you will not have full access to those help files unless you are using Internet Explorer or Netscape.