Select and Edit

How to select and create your own custom map: The United States

1. Open up the States Table within MapInfo - C:\MAPINFO\CLASS\United States\States
   
2. Now we want to preserve the data we are working with so we will save a copy of the States Table. To do this we will…
   1. Save the States Table in your OWN GIS FOLDER.
   2. Save it under C:\Mapinfo\Staff\YOUR NAME
      Remember:  You are saving a copy of table, save it using the command…SAVE COPY AS.
      
3. MapInfo is different than other programs because even when you save a copy of the original table under a different name, you still have the original table active.  Not the copy you just saved.  Because of this we need to close the original and open up our copy.  Thus preserving the data.
   1. Go into the Word Toolbar and choose File. 
   2. Next choose Close All.
   3. Now go back into the Word Toolbar and choose File.  From here you have two choices:
      1. Choose Open and open the copy of States under C:\Mapinfo\Staff\YOUR NAME
      2. Or you can you can choose 1. C:\Mapinfo\Staff\YOUR NAME\States.TAB from the File drop down list. 
         
4. Now that we have our copy open, we must make our map editable so select the Editable box.
   
5. We need to select our region.
   Next, using the Select Arrow (bottom left button on the toolbar), we will select and highlight a state. Repeat this process if you want to select multiple states. (To do so hold the shift key to select multiple states.)
   
6. Next, using the Region Style button, we will customize the states you have just selected to your own specifications.
   1. Click the Region Style button (top right on the toolbar)
   2. Now change the Fill and Border settings and when you are finished click OK.
   3. Voila!  You have just customized your own region!
      
7. The Next Step - Make your region the only thing visible on your map
   1. Select and delete (use the delete key) the states you did not highlight.
      Note: Use three methods to delete unwanted states
      1. The Select Arrow
      2. Marquee Select
      3. Radius Select
         
8. Next save your work by choosing one of three options.
   1. Go into the Word Toolbar and choose File. Next choose Save Table.
   2. A shortcut to Save Table is to press Ctrl and S at the same time.
   3. Another shortcut is to use the Save Table shortcut button in the upper left hand corner. Hint: It looks like the Floppy Disk.
   4. A tip to remember: Any time you are modifying a map you should save it every couple of minutes in case of a power or computer failure.
   5. Voila!  You have just customized and saved your own region in your own MapInfo folder!
      
9. NOW CLOSE YOUR WORK - Choose File in the word toolbar and select Close All. Now It gets difficult!
   
10. Open up the States, Capitals & Cities Tables within MapInfo
     C:\MAPINFO\CLASS\United States\States
     C:\MAPINFO\CLASS\United States\Cities
     C:\MAPINFO\CLASS\United States\Capitals
    
11. We must make our map Editable.
    1. Go into Layer Control
    2. We need to make the States layer is Editable, so select the Editable box next to States.
       
12. We need to select our region
    1. Next, using the Select Arrow (bottom left button on the toolbar), we will select and highlight a state.
    2. Repeat this process if you want to select multiple states.
       (To do so hold the shift key to select multiple states.)
       
13. Region Style - Next, using the Region Style button (top right on the toolbar), customize your region to your own specifications and click OK.  (see step 6 for help)
    
14. Make your region the only thing visible on your map
    1. Select and delete (use the delete key) the states, cities and capitals you did not highlight.
    2. Remember you cannot remove an object from a layer unless that layer is editable & only one layer at a time can be editable & you have three layers open. Hint: Use the marquee select and radius select to make this process easier.
       
15. Next apply labels to the information you feel is relevant:…States, Cities, Capitals. Remember to use either the Label Toolbar button or the Label feature within Layer Control.
    
16. Next we want to edit our labels: This can be accomplished within Layer Control by:
    1. Highlight the table that you want to edit
    2. Next select the Label button and edit your label to your specifications by modifying the utilities within the Visibility, Stylesand Position boxes.
    3. Repeat processes A & B as many times as you feel is necessary.
       
17. Save your WORKSPACE in your OWN GIS FOLDER which can be found under
    C:\mapinfo\staff\YOUR NAME
    Remember:  This is a WORKSPACE, not a table, so choose File and then Save Workspace.
    Voila!  You have just customized and saved your own region in your own MapInfo folder!

It is time to move onto the Next Section...Thematic Mapping.

top