This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.
>From: "Paul L. Sirvatka" <address@hidden> >Organization: COD >Keywords: 200201042259.g04MxBN21657 McIDAS-X MAP Paul, >Thanks for helping with the mcidas upgrade. No worries. >I understand that there are >more road maps available. I just do not know how to use them. Any help? Perhaps the best help would be some examples that you can use and build on. Here goes: 1) draw a map of the continental US in CONformal projection and overlay it with US Interstate Highways a) two step method SF 1 ERASE MAP USACONF 1 MAP SAT 7 FILE=OUTUSINT b) single step method SF 1 ERASE MAP USACONF FILE=OUTLUSAM OUTUSINT MCOLOR=1 7 2) draw a map of IL in magenta and overlay it with interstates, US highways, and state roads all in different colors a) multistep method SF 2 ERASE MAP IL PRO=CONF MAP SAT 7 FILE=OUTUSINT MAP SAT 4 FILE=OUTUSHIW MAP SAT 5 FILE=OUTSTRD b) single step method SF 2 ERASE MAP IL PRO=CONF FILE=OUTLUSAM OUTUSINT OUTUSHIW OUTSTRD MCOLOR=1 7 4 5 3) much like the other examples, put up a map of FL counties and overlay it with a map of state outlines, but have the line width of the state outlines be 2 SF 3 ERASE MAP FL PRO=CONF FILE=OUTLCNTY MCOLOR=5 MAP SAT 1 ST=FL WIDTH=2 4) Also try: SF 3 ERASE MAP FL PRO=CONF ST=FL COU=ALL MCOLOR=5 And: SF 3 ERASE MAP FL PRO=CONF ST=FL COU=ALL MCOLOR=5 DOMAIN=YES MAP SAT FILE=OUTUSINT MCOLOR=7 Now, any map you can generate can be put into your MAP.USER file and assigned a mnemonic so you can easily plot it. Add the following to your MAP.USER file: ROADS OUTLINEFILE=OUTUSHIW OUTUSINT OUTSTRD \ PROJECTION=SAT \ MCOLOR = 5 3 2 And then plot ROADS on top of another map: SF 1 ERASE MAP IL 1 PRO=CONF MAP ROADS Notice that you have to have some navigation in the frame before you can plot the ROADS. To illustrate the point, try putting up a satellite image and plotting ROADS on top of it. The new MAP outline files in the distribution go well beyond roads. Here is the list: OUTline file Contents -------------+--------------------------- OUTCANAL US canals (NEW) OUTLCNTY US counties (reworked) OUTRAIL1 US major railways (NEW) OUTRAIL2 US secondary railways (NEW) OUTRAIL3 US tertiary railways (NEW) OUTSTRD US state highways (NEW) OUTTECTN WORLD tectonic plates (NEW) OUTUSHIW US highways (NEW) OUTUSINT US interstate highways (NEW) OUTUSRIV US rivers (NEW) OUTWOLAK WORLD lakes (NEW) OUTWORIV WORLD rivers (NEW) Tom