On occasion, DeLorme customer service representatives are called on to clarify that the images and sample maps on the xmap.com pages do not always reflect what new XMap users are likely to see immediately after they install the software. These images are intended to represent simulations of how the functionality of XMap can be applied within certain industries and for particular applications. The process of composing these maps typically involves utilizing data from a variety of sources, and often it entails creating custom symbology that is more applicable for representing the features on a particular map. It should also be noted that all of the sample maps have been created using the tools that are readily available to all XMap users.
XMap includes a variety of symbol sets that can be assigned to represent points on the map. These range from simple pushpins and flags to more complex symbols representing outdoor pursuits, which were inherited from Topo USA, DeLorme’s recreational software title. XMap also offers a feature for creating custom symbols, which was the source for many of the symbols use on the aforementioned sample maps. Creating custom symbols is a fairly straightforward process:
- In the Draw tab, select the Symbol tool by clicking and holding the button in the lower left corner of the draw tools.
- From the resulting Symbols dropdown list, choose New to activate XSym, XMap’s symbol creating and editing tool.
- Either use the available graphic tools to draw your own symbols or click the Import button to use an existing bitmap file as a symbol. XSym will automatically reduce the image size to fit the 24 pixels square dimensions of the symbol; however, it is recommended that this reduction is performed using a third party graphic program before initiating the import process. Due to the degree of reduction, a complex image file may not be accurately represented when imported.
- When all of the required symbols have been created, type an appropriate name for the symbol set and click OK. The new symbols are now available in the Draw tab.
To assign these new symbols to a GIS point layer, you must first add the symbol set to the list of those available in the Symbolize Layer dialog box.
- Click the Add button and in the resulting window, click Browse
- Locate the previously created symbol set (*.dim) in the Symbols folder in the DeLorme Docs folder
- After it has been selected, click the Add to List button before clicking OK
The symbols in your new symbol set will now be available for all of your GIS point layers.
