Maptitude Help / Moving Around a Map / Changing the Map Scale and Center

Changing the Map Scale and Center

A Maptitude map is dynamic. You can focus in on any specific area you want, and change the map so that the features you want to see are shown at the size you want to see them.

The scale of a map is the relationship between the size of each feature on the map and its actual size on the surface of the Earth. Large scale maps make each feature look larger, and show a smaller geographic area. Small scale maps make each feature look smaller, and show a larger geographic area.

Comparison of small and large scale maps

A small scale map (left) and a large scale map (right)

The center of a map is the location of the middle point of the map. Taken together, scale and center define the area that is included in a map, also known as its extent.

There are a number of ways that you can move around a Maptitude map:

Each time you change zoom or pan, Maptitude remembers the previous settings. You can retrace each change all the way back to the extent that was used when the map was created or last saved.

Blue triangle map pointerTo Return a Map to the Previous Scale and Center

  1. Choose Map>Zoom>Undo or click Previous scale button icon on the Tools toolbar.

Maptitude undoes the most recent zoom or pan action. You can repeat this step to continue to retrace each change.

Blue triangle map pointerTo Restore the Original Scale and Center

  1. Choose Map>Zoom>Undo All or click Initial Scale button icon on the Tools toolbar.

Maptitude draws the map with the scale and center that was used when the map was created or last saved.

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