Dynamically embedding background maps provided on the Internet

The graphics layer Background map dynamically embeds maps and images by map providers into your network. The map material is always reloaded when you change the respective network section or open the network again. Visum always uses the latest map material available. To dynamically embed a background image, you will need a permanent Internet connection as the map data is not saved. This has several advantages:

  • You always use the most recent maps provided.
  • You can exchange projects between computers without having to account for the directories of maps.
  • You do not use up additional storage space on your computer for maps.

1.  Make sure a coordinate system is set for the opened network (Selecting a coordinate system).

2.  From the Graphics menu, choose Edit graphic parameters.

Tip: You can also control the display of backgrounds using the Enable/disable background map symbol and by clicking on the small black triangle of the button and selecting the desired map service from the drop-down list.

The Edit graphic parameters window opens.

3.  In the navigator, select Background map.

4.  Make the desired changes.

Element

Description

Background color

Choice of the color for the background.

Draw layer background map

Select this option to create and show a separate layer for the background map. The layer is automatically displayed after you start Visum.

Tip

Alternatively, you can activate or deactivate the layer. To do so, in the Network editor window, on the Graphic parameters toolbar, click the Enable/disable background map button .

Notes

If you select the option and a white background is displayed instead of the map, click the Display entire network button .

The loading of background maps from the internet can be disabled in the user preferences. Permit loading background maps from the internet, where applicable.

Map service

In the list box, click the Internet map service from which you want to download map material for your background map layer.

Notes

In the list box, Visum's default map services are shown that you have specified under Edit > User preferences > User interface > Background map (Specifying default settings for inserting background maps).

The Default map service is PTV Default.

Color settings

Color

Select this option to display the background map in color.

Gray scale

Select this option has been selected to show the background map in different shades of gray.

Opacity

Use the slider for stepless scaling of color intensity. This allows you to vary the way your network is depicted.

Adjust projection to speed up background maps

Click the link if you want to convert the coordinates of your network to the coordinates of the background network. This change allows a faster display of the background map, as the tiles do not have to be transformed to the existing projection before display.

Warning

You cannot undo this change.

Note: If no coordinate system is set for the network, a message is displayed saying that no backgrounds can be embedded from online sources. In this case, you can only load graphic files as background images (Inserting background images of map services provided on the Internet).

5.  Confirm with OK.

The Internet maps are downloaded and shown in the network display as a separate graphics layer in the background.

Note: The map service is addressed via a name that is specified in the Basic settings. If you pass on a version file used with a user-defined map service, make sure the map service is available under the same name on the other computers. You can ensure this by exchanging a user preferences file (Saving, opening and restoring user preferences).