After showing a 'splash' screen, DatMapR opens with its Main Window.

A number of other dialogs are accessed via control buttons, and are described below. In general, the buttons and parameters run down the screen through the process of defining a map, but they can be selected in any order.

DatMapR uses data held in a ‘Project file' or database. These are created or selected through the Project / Data Management dialog.  That window also provides facilities to Import data into the project database from a text file.

Having imported data into the Project database, the main parameters needed to create a map are entered or selected using other controls on the Main Window.

If settings have been saved earlier or in a previous session, they will be held within the Project file and can be reloaded using the Reload Saved Settings button which opens the Reload Saved Settings dialog.

The remaining controls on the main window are split into groups (each described in its own page) –

Select Required Data (Selecting a data field and sub-set of records),

Basic Layout (Map Titles, Map mode, Grid/Symbol Size),

Map Area (Geographical area covered) and

Formatting (Background, Data Bands / Symbols, Fonts, Colours, etc.).

The map is then created and previewed using the Preview / Print / Save Map button which lays out the map, which is opened in a separate Map Window, from where it can be saved (e.g. as a JPEG file) or printed.

At any stage, the current settings can be saved via the Save Settings dialog. These can then be reloaded later as required via the ReLoad Settings dialog.