Config Tools
let's begin
The config menu is your go-to place to customize settings for the map viewer and tools. The config menu is available on both the web and mobile app although some settings are specific to one platform or may differ in the degree of customization possible between the web and mobile app. The settings below are available on both platforms with the same amount of customization possible unless otherwise indicated.
Keep reading to learn about how to use the config menu or click on any of the names of the settings below to jump ahead to that particular section!
Topics on this Page:
Accessing the Config Menu
Click on Config in the upper menu above the map viewer to view and edit your current settings.
Finding the Config Menu in the Mobile App
In the mobile app, click on the 3 bar menu in the upper lefthand corner and then select *Display Options* to view and edit your current settings.
Jump to the other mobile-only instructions for configuring the display settings.
Display Settings/Options
Show Labels
This setting allows you to change how labels on map objects are displayed in the map viewer. On the web, you have the option to show all labels, none or by folder:
- All: labels are shown for every map objects
- None: no labels are shown
- By Folder: allows you to turn labels on/off by folder. If you select this option, Labels Shown appears at the bottom of each folder. Clicking on this changes it to Labels Hidden and hides the labels for the map objects in that folder on the map.
Additionally you also have the option to turn the white background for labels on or off depending upon your preference.
Show UTM/USNG Grid
This setting allows you to add gridlines to the map viewer. Selecting it will display the UTM/USNG grid in the specified datum. You can adjust the intensity in order to lighten or darken the appearance of the grid lines.
Please note that if you wish to include gridlines on a generated PDF or JPEG, you must select to display these in the Print Options menu. To learn more about printing options, go to the Print lesson.
Update URL on Map Move
This setting is only available on the web on an unsaved map. Selecting this option displays additional information in the map URL such as the coordinates for the center of the map, zoom level and base layers and overlays selected. Changes to any of these will be reflected and displayed in the map URL.
Coordinates
You can configure how datum, units and coordinates are displayed on the web and mobile app. The settings you select will be reflected in the position display in the upper right hand corner of the map viewer.
Datum
A datum is the chosen model used to measure positions on the Earth. A specific point on Earth can have significantly different coordinates depending on what datum is used to make the measurements.
For example, a point with a given latitude and longitude in WGS84 can be many meters off from another point having the identical latitude and longitude in NAD27.
You can choose between WGS84 and NAD27 for coordinate display and entry (NAD83 is not offered as a separate setting because it is essentially the same as WGS84 in this context). The current datum selected will appear in the position display (as shown above) and any Marker or Point dialogs.
If you change datums, the coordinates of any map objects already on the map will automatically change to reflect the datum but the objects will remain in the same position on the map.
Measurement Units
This setting configures which units to display for elevation, distance and area. You can choose between mixed, metric, imperial, nautical, feet only and acres only. Please note that changing the units in the Config menu does not change how data is displayed in base layers. The units used in base layers for measurements such as contour line elevation depends on the underlying data source.
Coordinate System (Primary and Secondary Formats)
This setting specifies the primary and secondary coordinate system format displayed. You can choose between UTM, USNG, Degrees, Degrees Minutes and Degrees Minutes Seconds.
Unlike other GPS apps and devices, you can still enter coordinates in any system format (for example when searching for a new location or adding a marker) regardless of this setting.
Show Position and Show Coordinates/Elevation
These settings allow you to show or hide the position display on the mobile app. On the web, the setting appears as Show Position at. If selected, the position display is visible. The position display can be configured to show information for the current position of the cursor or the center of the map viewer using the dropdown menu.
Drawing
This part of the Config menu allows you to change the settings for drawing lines and polygons. Options for configuring drawing settings are only available on the web at time.
Stop At
This setting defines the maximum number of vertices that can be drawn. The purpose of this setting is to safeguard against the editing of tracks with thousands of vertices, which can cause the browser to hang. Using the drop down menu you can select between 1000, 2000, 5000 or 10000 vertices.
Snap To
Previously known as "auto routing", this setting allows you to designate the data source for the snap to menu that appears when you are measuring or drawing a line or polygon. You can also change the settings in the snap to drop down menu that appears on the map viewer at any time.
Snap to makes it easier than ever to accurately draw routes along roads, trails and other features. Snap to highlights these features in yellow based on the data source selected in the Config or dropdown menus and you can "snap" any line or polygon that you draw to these highlighted features. For more information on how to use snap to when measuring or drawing, go to the Drawing Lines and Polygons lesson.
There are numerous data sources available for snap to:
Data Source
Description
No Features
No features are highlighted; essentially turns snap to off.
Lines and Polygons
Highlights existing lines and polygons on the map.
OpenStreetMap
Highlights trails, roads and features identified on OpenStreetMap (OSM).
Forest Service
Highlights trails, roads and features identified on United States Forest Service (USFS) maps.
MVUM
Highlights motor vehicle routes from the MVUM overlay.
Hydrology
Highlights streams, creeks, rivers and other water features.
Be aware that depending upon which snap to data source and base layers you have selected, the underlying data source for snap to may differ from that of the base layer.
Consider the example below. Both images have the MapBuilder Topo layer, which draws trail data from OpenStreetMap. The image on the left has "Forest Service" selected as the snap to data source, whereas the image on the right has "OpenStreetMap" selected.
Which snap to data source you decide to use will depend upon the area you are in, the base layers you are using and what you are trying to accomplish. Remember that you can always switch between snap to data sources at any time, even in the middle of drawing a line or polygon- sometimes this can be really helpful to do during the route planning process!
Mobile Settings
While the web and mobile app offer many of the same settings, some settings are less configurable in mobile than on the web while other settings are unique to mobile. This section covers differences between the web and mobile app as well as mobile-specific settings.
Display Options Differences
Show Labels
On the mobile app you can toggle labels on or off. No further configuration is possible.
Show Scale Bar
This display setting allows you to change the visibility of the scale bar. Toggle this setting on and off to show or hide the scale bar from the bottom left hand corner of the map viewer.
Compass and Heading Settings
This part of the Display Options menu allows you to change how compass and heading data is displayed. Since this is part of navigating with the mobile app, these settings are only available on the mobile app. For more information on navigating with the mobile app, please see the mobile Navigation lesson.
Show Heading Line
This setting controls whether a heading line is shown to indicate the direction you are facing when your location is turned on. Simply toggle "Show Heading Line" on to display a heading line in place of the blue compass arrow.
North Reference
Choose between true or magnetic north for your north reference. This will be reflected in the numerical heading displayed next to the crosshairs icon in the lower right corner of the map viewer.
Coordinate Settings Differences
Other than the Show Coordinates/Elevation settings, the other settings in this section (Datum, Units, and primary and secondary formats) function the same was as they do on the web.
Show Coordinates/Elevation
On the mobile app, this setting appears as *Show Coordinates/Elevation*. Toggle this setting on and off to show or hide the position display. The position and elevation information shown is always for the center of the map viewer.
