After showing a 'splash' screen, DatMapR opens with its Main Window.
The window has a menu bar through which the application can be closed (File>Exit) or the Help file can be accessed. The keyboard can also be used to close the application (Ctrl/Shift/X) and to open the Help File (Ctrl/H).
The data and parameters for defining maps are then entered or loaded through controls on this window, or from dialogs accessed by clicking on control buttons, as decribed below.
Project files are created or selected by opening the Project / Data Management dialog, where data is also imported via an Import dialog.
Alternatively, Double-clicking on a Project File (a .dmr file) in Windows Explorer will open DatMapR and select the file. A Project File can also be selected by dropping the file onto the Main Window or the Project / Data Management Window.
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 can be reloaded using the Reload Saved Settings button which again opens a new window.
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.).
These groups are also reflected in the settings sub-sets that can be saved and loaded using the Save/Reload Settings dialogs.
The map is then created and previewed using the Preview / Print / Save Map button. After checking for the required data, DatMapR will warn about any inconsistencies in the data (e.g. band minima in the wrong order or problems laying out the map due to the map scale and image resolution) and the finished map will be opened in a separate Map Window from which 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.
