Tools

Using the map tools, you can, among other things, add your own features to the map and save the selected map layers as a view for future use. You can also save the map as an image file or create a link to the map view to be shared with others.
 

 
The map tools are mainly located in the sidebar on the left-hand side of Paikkatietoikkuna. On the right-hand side of the Paikkatietoikkuna user interface, you will find the following functions: Locate, Coordinate Tool, and Reset North Up.
 

Return to Instructions of Paikkatietoikkuna -website.

Go to default view Go to previous view Go to next view    
Zoom in on map Pan map view Measure distance Measure area
Save map view Link to map view Print map view    
Terrain height profile            
Map marker Select features Locate nearest address    
Add point Add line Add area Import own data
Locate Coordinates Rotate map    

Move between map views

Go to the default view, previous view or next view by clicking the corresponding tool. The default view is the basic map view used in the application. You can go to the default view by clicking the button in the middle of the panning arrows.

Zoom in and zoom out on the map

Click the Zoom in on map tool and selecting an area that you would like to show on the map.

You can also zoom in or out by using the following methods:

  • Double-click a point on the map. The map will be zoomed and centred on the selected point.
  • Use the scroll wheel of your mouse.


You can select an appropriate scale by using the following methods:

  • Change the scale by dragging the circle on the zoom bar up or down.
  • Zoom in on the map by clicking the (+) button and zoom out by clicking the (-) button on the zoom bar.
  • Zoom in on the map by pressing the (+) key and zoom out by pressing the (-) key on the keyboard.

In the bottom left-hand corner of the map view, there is scale bar showing the distance on the map.

Pan map view

Pan the map by using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Pan Map View tool and drag the map with the mouse.
  • Click the panning arrows in the top right-hand corner of the map.
  • Use the arrow keys on the keyboard.

You can see the coordinates of the focal point and the coordinate system below the zoom bar.

Measure distance

Select the Measure Distance tool and measure the distance between points:

  1. Draw a line by clicking a start point and break points.
  2. Double-click an end point.
  3. Read the distance in metres in the pop-up window.

Measure area

Select the Measure Area tool and measure the area:

  1. Draw the boundary line of an area by clicking the corners.
  2. Double-click the end point.
  3. Read the area as square kilometres in the pop-up window.

Terrain height profile

This tool draws a terrain height profile for a line that you draw on the map. Calculations are based on a terrain model of the National Land Survey of Finland.

  1. Click the Terrain height profile icon.
  2. Draw a line by clicking a start point and break points.
  3. Finally, double-click an end point.

After this the terrain height profile is calculated and drawn. By moving the mouse cursor on top of the height profile, you can see the corresponding location highlighted on the map.

Please note, that terrain height profiles are at maximum calculated based on 100 locations. Therefore the results are not highly realistic for long distances.
For example, for a line of 1000 kilometres, the result would be based on height values every 10 kilometers along the line.

Save map view

As a logged-in user, you can save a map view for later use:

  1. Click the Save Map View tool.
  2. Type a name and a description for your view. The name is required.
  3. Click the Save button.

You can find your saved map views in the My Data menu on the Map Views tab. On the tab, you can:

Make a link to the map view and send it forward.

  1. Select the Link to Map View tool.
  2. Copy the link from the pop-up window by pressing CTRL+C.
  3. Paste the text, for instance, into an e-mail by pressing CTRL+V.

Print out your map view as a PNG image or PDF file.

  1. Select the Print View tool.
  2. Click the Continue button.
  3. Select a size and paper orientation for the printout.
  4. In the Additional settings, select file format (PNG image or PDF document).
  5. Give the map a descriptive title.
  6. Select whether you want the logo of the service, the scale of the map and the date to be shown on the printout.
  7. Click the Print button.

The preview image shows the map extent area. The preview image does not show all map layers.

Map marker

Add a map marker on the map:

  1. Select the Map Marker tool.
  2. Click a location of interest on the map.
  3. Select an icon, size and colour for the marker.
  4. Enter a text to be shown next to the marker.
  5. Click the Save button.

You can delete all map markers by selecting the Map Marker tool and clicking the Delete all markers button.

Select features

You can select features from layers that contain feature data. You can see these layers in the Map Layers menu by clicking the Vector layers button.

Select features by drawing a geometry around or on them:

  1. Select the Select Features tool.
  2. Select the geometry for selecting features.
  3. Select whether you want to select features from the topmost layer or from all layers.
  4. Draw a geometry.
  5. The features within the geometry are highlighted on the map and in the Feature Data table.

The following geometries are available.

  • Point: Click on a desired location on the map. The selection includes all features on which the point you have drawn is located.
  • Line: Draw a line by clicking a start point and break points. Finally, double-click an end point. The selection includes all features that intersect with this line.
  • Area: Click the break points of the area. Finally, double-click one of the break points. The selection includes all features that are partly or totally inside the area.
  • Rectangle: Draw a rectangle by clicking and holding the left mouse button at one corner point and moving the mouse pointer to the opposite corner point. Finally, release the mouse button. The selection includes all features that are partly or totally inside the rectangle.
  • Circle: Draw a circle by clicking and holding the left mouse button at the centre point of the circle and moving it away from the centre point to increase the size of the circle. Finally, release the mouse button. The selection includes all features that are partly or totally inside the circle.

Locate nearest address

Click a location of interest on the map. The information about the nearest address is shown in the pop-up window that opens up on the map.

Add feature

You can add a feature to an existing dataset or create a new dataset. Your saved datasets are available on the Datasets tab under My data.

You can add a feature either using the Add feature tool or by selecting Edit for a dataset on the Datasets tab. 

Add feature

  1. Select the Add feature tool.
  2. Select the dataset where you want to add the feature:
    • Create a new dataset: Click the (+) button and follow the instructions under Create a new dataset.
    • Select dataset: Select a dataset from the drop-down menu and click Select dataset.
  3. Enter the feature's attribute values.
  4. Draw the feature on the map and then click Finish drawing. To discard your changes, click Restore original value.
    • Point: Click the desired location on the map. You can draw only one point at a time.
    • Line: Click to add vertices along the line. Double-click the end point to finish drawing.
    • Area: Click to add vertices around the area. Double-click the last vertex to finish drawing.
  5. Finally, click Save. The feature is saved to the dataset you selected at the beginning. 

Edit feature

  1. Click the feature on the map.
  2. Select Edit feature in the window that opens.
  3. Update the feature's attributes or geometry.
  4. Save your changes.

To delete a feature, click it on the map and select Delete feature. 

Create a new dataset

You can create a dataset in two ways:

  • Open the Add feature tool and click the (+) button.
  • Go to My data > Datasets and click New dataset. 

Edit dataset settings

In the New dataset window, the dataset settings are divided into three tabs:

  1. Basic information: Enter a name, description, and data source for the dataset.
    • The dataset name is the only required field.
    • You can enter the information in the different languages available in the user interface.
  2. Presentation: Specify how points, lines, and areas are displayed.
    • The same presentation settings apply to all features in the dataset.
  3. Attributes: Define the attributes for the features.
    • If name is the only attribute you need, you do not need to make any changes on this tab.
    • You can specify each attribute's name, type, and presentation.
    • The attribute name can be provided in the different languages available in the user interface.
    • Presentation settings (gear icon) generally only need to be defined for text attributes.
    • You can hide an attribute from users using the eye icon or change the order of attributes using the arrow icon.
    • You can delete an attribute using the trash icon if no features have yet been saved to the dataset. 

Add attribute

  1. Specify the following:
    • Name: The name may contain only letters and numbers. The letters å, ä, and ö are not allowed.
    • Type: The default type is text. The type determines how the attribute value is entered in the user interface.
  2. Finally, click Add feature.

Note: You can only add attributes if no features have yet been saved to the dataset. 

Import datasets

As a signed-in user, you can add your own dataset and use it as a map layer:

  1. Click the Import Dataset tool. Then select a file from your computer. Allowed file formats are shp, gpx and mif/mid as zip files and kml as kmz files (zipped kml file).
  2. Type a name, a description and a data source for your dataset. Define style for points, lines and areas.
  3. Click the Import button.

You can find the dataset you imported in the My Data menu on the Datasets tab.

Locate

By using the Locate tool, you can centre the map view to your location, if you have permitted Paikkatietoikkuna to pinpoint your location. You can find the tool on the right-hand side of the map view below the zoom bar.

Coordinates

You can find the Coordinates tool on the right-hand side of the map view below the zoom bar. The tool shows as default the ETRS-TM35FIN plane coordinates as well as the geographic WGS84 coordinates recommended for emergency calls for the focal point of the map view.

With the Coordinates tool you can also:

  • Click a point on the map to see the coordinates for the point.
  • Enter coordinates and centre the map on them.
  • Click the Show mouse cursor coordinates selection box to make the coordinates change according to the movement of the mouse.
  • Add markers on the map on coordinate-defined points by using the Add Marker button.
  • Select a coordinate system from the drop-down menu.
  • Convert the coordinates you have entered. You can do this by first selecting a coordinate system from the drop-down menu and entering the coordinates in that format and then selecting another coordinate system from the drop-down menu to which you want to convert the coordinates.

Rotate map

To rotate the map use Alt+Shift+Drag combination. If you wish to return to initial orientation (north up), press this compass icon.