MapGazer - general settings

The Settings menu lets you change settings that apply to all windows. These are:

Data folders – lets you specify where MapGazer should first look for Elevation data or Icons:

Elevations data folder – this lets you select a specific folder for elevation data (see Elevation data for details).

Icons data folder – this lets you select a specific folder for Icons (see Using icons for details).

Status display – lets you customize the status shown at the top left of the map, and whether map status (zoom level and copyright information) is displayed at the bottom right. You can vary the opaqueness of the background of status information; see Using transparency.

The status displayed varies according to whether the cursor is over the map or over a Mark (track, route, waypoint, etc.). The options are all on by default (except for Hide all status, Show GPX elevations, and Show captions) and are:

Hide all status – this overrides the individual status settings described below. If checked then no status is displayed. Use the Space Bar to toggle between ‘hide all’ and ‘show all selected items’.
Show position/elevation – shows the latitude and longitude corresponding to the cursor position when the cursor is over the map or over a track, route, or waypoint. When over the map, the elevation will also be shown if elevation data is available. The map position latitude and longitude (and elevation, if available) can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the map and choosing the Map details menu item (which shows what will be copied).
Show route status – shows information about a route (e.g., its name if it has one and its length) when the cursor is over, or dragging, part of a route or a route waypoint. For the length, the distance units are selected as described above. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the route and choosing the Route details menu item.
Show scale status – shows information about a scale (e.g., its name if it has one, its offset in the window, and its target length percent) when the cursor is over, or dragging, a scale. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the scale and choosing the Scale details menu item.
Show track status – shows information about a track (e.g., its name if it has one, its length, the time when a point on the track was recorded, and the speed at that time) when the cursor is over part of a track. For the length and speed, the distance units are selected as described above. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the track and choosing the Track details menu item.
Show waypoint status – shows information about a waypoint (e.g., its name if it has one, its position, and the time when it was recorded if known) when the cursor is over a waypoint. The icon name will also be displayed if one is assigned and the icon is visible. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the waypoint and choosing the Waypoint details menu item.
Show area coordinates – shows the latitude and longitude of the bottom left (South West, SW) and top right (North East, NE) corners of the area when the cursor is over, or dragging, the area border; the size of the area, in pels at the current zoom, is also shown. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the area’s border and choosing the Area details menu item.
Show image coordinates – shows the latitude and longitude of the bottom left (South West, SW) and top right (North East, NE) corners of the image when the cursor is over the image or its border; the size of the image, in pels at the current zoom, is also shown. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the image or its border and choosing the Image details menu item.
Show links – shows any primary link (URL, Universal Resource Locator) of a track, route, or point. If the link has link text (see Mark properties), this is shown instead of the URL.
Show captions – shows the description of a track, route, or point, if known. This setting is off by default because captions are often generic, or a copy of the name or position.
Show GPX elevations – shows the recorded elevation of a waypoint or point on a track, if known. This setting is off by default because recorded elevations are often unreliable.
Show map zoom level – shows the current zoom level of the map at the bottom right. When the current level is an ‘over-zoom’ level the zoom is shown as (for example) ‘16+2’, which indicates that it is zoom level 18 (two levels higher than the most detailed level, 16 in this case). Similarly, if the current level is a level higher than the least-detailed level it would be shown as (for example) ‘11−1’, which indicates that it is zoom level 10 (one level less than the least detailed level, 11 in this case).
When an intermediate level has no data the zoom will be shown as (again, for example) ‘@13’ to indicate that tiles in the view may contain compressed data from the next more-detailed level or an enlargement of data from some less-detailed level.
Show map copyrights – displays the copyright information for a map (if available) at the bottom right.

Measurement units – selects the units used when distances, speeds, or elevations are displayed. Here you can choose any or all of Metric, Statute (customary), or Nautical units. By default, Metric will be used.

This submenu self-orders; when you uncheck an item it is moved to the bottom of the list and when you check an item it is moved above any unchecked items. This lets you control the order in which units are displayed (also, the top item is always selected and is used for any Scale).

Coordinate formats – changes the format used for displaying Latitude and Longitude (these are: degrees°minutes′seconds″, degrees°minutes, decimal degrees with 5 or 6 fractional digits, and UTM); please see Coordinate formats for details.

Waypoints style – changes the style of displayed Waypoints and Route waypoints; these may be shown as icons, drawn ‘X’ symbols (Small, Medium, Large, Extra large, or just a dot), or a mixture of these; for more details, see Using icons.

Mark line widths – changes the width of all displayed routes, tracks, area and image borders, and waypoint ‘X’ or dot symbols (Light, Medium, or Heavy).

Cursor style – chooses default ‘arrow’ cursor or a custom cursor for precision positioning.

Use system cursors – uses system cursors, including the default ‘arrow’ cursor when over the map (the ‘Hand’ cursor is used for all dragging).

Use crosshair cursor – changes the default ‘arrow’ cursor to a coloured cursor for precision poitioning.

Diagnostics – changes the console and diagnostic settings:

Show console – displays a console window; this is primarily used for viewing error messages and diagnostics – if some action does not work as expected it may be helpful to turn the console on and check it for messages on retrying the action.

Show extra diagnostics – displays more detailed diagnostics on the console.

Show received messages – displays each Windows message as it is received by MapGazer; this setting is quite verbose and may slow the normal operation of MapGazer.

Log extra diagnostics – writes progress reports to the file ‘MapGazer-log.txt’ in the MapGazer log directory (see below). Any existing log file is erased when logging is first started by using this setting, Log received messages, or a command line option that starts logging.

Log received messages – writes Windows message reports to the file ‘MapGazer-log.txt’ in the MapGazer log directory (see below). Any existing log file is erased when logging is first started by using this setting, Log extra diagnostics, or a command line option that starts logging.
Note that this setting will slow the normal operation of MapGazer.

Open log directory – open the directory used to save logs and persistent data. This will either be the folder containing MapGazer.exe if that folder is writable, or otherwise the Windows default User folder. The location of the latter depends on the version of Windows in use, so this option opens that folder as a convenience (it is not a ‘setting’).

All the above settings (except log-related) are saved in a file (MapGazer.ini) in the log directory (see above, under Open log directory). Settings saved also include details of the map and viewpoint last viewed, the last-loaded GPX file, transparencies (of maps, marks, and status background), custom colours, the last good coordinates entered in the Go to location dialog, and the screen positions of the console and last-viewed window (view).

	MapGazer – general settings
Introduction Download MapGazer Getting started Using marks: Waypoints Tracks Routes Areas Images Scales Mark properties Using icons Using transparency General settings Getting maps Using map tools Go to location Coordinate formats GPX files Elevation data Aspect ratio Keyboard shortcuts Command line Thanks	The Settings menu lets you change settings that apply to all windows. These are: *Data folders* – lets you specify where MapGazer should first look for Elevation data or Icons: Elevations data folder – this lets you select a specific folder for elevation data (see Elevation data for details). Icons data folder – this lets you select a specific folder for Icons (see Using icons for details). *Status display* – lets you customize the status shown at the top left of the map, and whether map status (zoom level and copyright information) is displayed at the bottom right. You can vary the opaqueness of the background of status information; see Using transparency. The status displayed varies according to whether the cursor is over the map or over a Mark (track, route, waypoint, etc.). The options are all on by default (except for Hide all status, Show GPX elevations, and Show captions) and are: Hide all status – this overrides the individual status settings described below. If checked then no status is displayed. Use the Space Bar to toggle between ‘hide all’ and ‘show all selected items’. Show position/elevation – shows the latitude and longitude corresponding to the cursor position when the cursor is over the map or over a track, route, or waypoint. When over the map, the elevation will also be shown if elevation data is available. The map position latitude and longitude (and elevation, if available) can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the map and choosing the Map details menu item (which shows what will be copied). Show route status – shows information about a route (e.g., its name if it has one and its length) when the cursor is over, or dragging, part of a route or a route waypoint. For the length, the distance units are selected as described above. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the route and choosing the Route details menu item. Show scale status – shows information about a scale (e.g., its name if it has one, its offset in the window, and its target length percent) when the cursor is over, or dragging, a scale. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the scale and choosing the Scale details menu item. Show track status – shows information about a track (e.g., its name if it has one, its length, the time when a point on the track was recorded, and the speed at that time) when the cursor is over part of a track. For the length and speed, the distance units are selected as described above. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the track and choosing the Track details menu item. Show waypoint status – shows information about a waypoint (e.g., its name if it has one, its position, and the time when it was recorded if known) when the cursor is over a waypoint. The icon name will also be displayed if one is assigned and the icon is visible. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the waypoint and choosing the Waypoint details menu item. Show area coordinates – shows the latitude and longitude of the bottom left (South West, SW) and top right (North East, NE) corners of the area when the cursor is over, or dragging, the area border; the size of the area, in pels at the current zoom, is also shown. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the area’s border and choosing the Area details menu item. Show image coordinates – shows the latitude and longitude of the bottom left (South West, SW) and top right (North East, NE) corners of the image when the cursor is over the image or its border; the size of the image, in pels at the current zoom, is also shown. Key statistics can be copied to the clipboard by right-clicking on the image or its border and choosing the Image details menu item. Show links – shows any primary link (URL, Universal Resource Locator) of a track, route, or point. If the link has link text (see Mark properties), this is shown instead of the URL. Show captions – shows the description of a track, route, or point, if known. This setting is off by default because captions are often generic, or a copy of the name or position. Show GPX elevations – shows the recorded elevation of a waypoint or point on a track, if known. This setting is off by default because recorded elevations are often unreliable. Show map zoom level – shows the current zoom level of the map at the bottom right. When the current level is an ‘over-zoom’ level the zoom is shown as (for example) ‘16+2’, which indicates that it is zoom level 18 (two levels higher than the most detailed level, 16 in this case). Similarly, if the current level is a level higher than the least-detailed level it would be shown as (for example) ‘11−1’, which indicates that it is zoom level 10 (one level less than the least detailed level, 11 in this case). When an intermediate level has no data the zoom will be shown as (again, for example) ‘@13’ to indicate that tiles in the view may contain compressed data from the next more-detailed level or an enlargement of data from some less-detailed level. Show map copyrights – displays the copyright information for a map (if available) at the bottom right. *Measurement units* – selects the units used when distances, speeds, or elevations are displayed. Here you can choose any or all of Metric, Statute (customary), or Nautical units. By default, Metric will be used. This submenu self-orders; when you uncheck an item it is moved to the bottom of the list and when you check an item it is moved above any unchecked items. This lets you control the order in which units are displayed (also, the top item is always selected and is used for any Scale). *Coordinate formats* – changes the format used for displaying Latitude and Longitude (these are: degrees°minutes′seconds″, degrees°minutes, decimal degrees with 5 or 6 fractional digits, and UTM); please see Coordinate formats for details. *Waypoints style* – changes the style of displayed Waypoints and Route waypoints; these may be shown as icons, drawn ‘X’ symbols (Small, Medium, Large, Extra large, or just a dot), or a mixture of these; for more details, see Using icons. *Mark line widths* – changes the width of all displayed routes, tracks, area and image borders, and waypoint ‘X’ or dot symbols (Light, Medium, or Heavy). *Cursor style* – chooses default ‘arrow’ cursor or a custom cursor for precision positioning. Use system cursors – uses system cursors, including the default ‘arrow’ cursor when over the map (the ‘Hand’ cursor is used for all dragging). Use crosshair cursor – changes the default ‘arrow’ cursor to a coloured cursor for precision poitioning. *Diagnostics* – changes the console and diagnostic settings: Show console – displays a console window; this is primarily used for viewing error messages and diagnostics – if some action does not work as expected it may be helpful to turn the console on and check it for messages on retrying the action. Show extra diagnostics – displays more detailed diagnostics on the console. Show received messages – displays each Windows message as it is received by MapGazer; this setting is quite verbose and may slow the normal operation of MapGazer. Log extra diagnostics – writes progress reports to the file ‘MapGazer-log.txt’ in the MapGazer log directory (see below). Any existing log file is erased when logging is first started by using this setting, Log received messages, or a command line option that starts logging. Log received messages – writes Windows message reports to the file ‘MapGazer-log.txt’ in the MapGazer log directory (see below). Any existing log file is erased when logging is first started by using this setting, Log extra diagnostics, or a command line option that starts logging. Note that this setting will slow the normal operation of MapGazer. Open log directory – open the directory used to save logs and persistent data. This will either be the folder containing MapGazer.exe if that folder is writable, or otherwise the Windows default User folder. The location of the latter depends on the version of Windows in use, so this option opens that folder as a convenience (it is not a ‘setting’). All the above settings (except log-related) are saved in a file (MapGazer.ini) in the log directory (see above, under Open log directory). Settings saved also include details of the map and viewpoint last viewed, the last-loaded GPX file, transparencies (of maps, marks, and status background), custom colours, the last good coordinates entered in the Go to location dialog, and the screen positions of the console and last-viewed window (view).