Outlined below are some tips that will help you get the best out of eMap. Click on the links to navigate to the information you require.

For more information you can download the eMap User Guide, the eMap+ and eMap+ advanced User Guide or Frequently Asked Questions.

• eMap Help
• How to search
• Navigating the map
• The Results Box
• Using Draw and Measure
• Saving Favourites
• Print
• Map Layers
• Importing your data
• Exporting Data
• How to get more help

How to search

The search box is found in the top left of the map and defaults to an "All" search. Start typing an address into the search box on the eMap screen. As you type, matching properties will appear, narrowing down your search until you can select the property you want.

The search allows you to locate properties or features using the following search types:

• Address
• Roads
• Suburbs
• Locality and Towns
• Owner
• Points of Interest
• Coordinates (such as NZTM and Lat/Long)

Tip: If the 'All' search shows too many results, especially if your entry is using a common name across the search types, then selecting a specific search type will help refine the search results list.

There are several ways to navigate around eMap. Most of the navigation tools can be found on the left hand side of the eMap screen. Navigation tools are outlined below.

Pan tool

Pan is the default tool in eMap and is symbolised by a hand cursor on the map. You are also able to turn Pan on and off on the left hand Navigation bar. The icon on the left Navigation bar will be blue when Pan is active.

Tip: When a tool shows as blue on the navigation bar, this is the tool that you currently have active.

Identify tool

eMap offers a combined Pan and Identify tool. It allows you to pan around the map horizontally or vertically and "Identify" (query) on the map as you wish.

If you would like more information on a specific location within eMap, a click of the mouse will activate the "Identify" function. You will be presented with property information within a Results box.

Tip: This is a great way to query on properties/features as you pan around the map.

Zoom slider

The Zoom slider is on the left navigation bar. Drag the slider up and down to zoom the map in or out. eMap also has the additional feature of zoom locators – these allow you to easily zoom to street, city or region level on the map with a single click.

Tip: You can also use the Plus and Minus buttons at each end of the zoom slider to zoom in or out.

Zoom in – zoom out

Activate the zoom in or out icons (and) then click and drag the mouse. This will create a bounding box/rubber band zoom which will zoom in/out to the appropriate area selected.

Mouse scroll wheel zoom

This function allows you to utilise the scroll wheel on your computer mouse to zoom in or out.

Tip: Using this function the map will zoom to the place where your icon is sitting on the map.

Zoom the map to full extent

The map can be reset to the full extent of New Zealand by clicking the full extent button - this is found on the left navigation bar.

Problems with navigation

If you are having problems navigating the map:

• Check which navigation tool you have activated (the active tool will be highlighted blue)

• If using the quick zoom functions (e.g. mouse scroll) check where your icon is placed on the map – the map will zoom in/out from where the icon is placed on the map
  
  

The Results box will populate any time you request information from the map (using either the identify tool or as a result of a search). There are 3 tabs that will offer different views for the results tab – list, details and favourites.

For example, if you were selecting a street from the search, then multiple results such as addresses for that street will populate the ‘List’ view.

Tip: Depending on the number of addresses returned, the list may be several pages long. The arrows allow you to navigate through the different pages of results.

If you select a particular property, such as 1A Sample Street, the view will change to show the ‘Details’ of 1A Sample Street. Again the arrows allow you to navigate between properties in detail view.

The third tab ‘Favourites’ allows you to access any saved properties, views or features and is detailed further in the document.

Details view

The Results box presents users with information on the selected feature. For example, for property information, users are presented with:

• Property Details
  
  
• Owners Information
  
  
• Related Properties
  
  
• Zoned Schools
  
  
• Last Sales Date
  
  
• Additional Reports

Terranet Reports

eMap has a direct link to Terranet (www.terranet.co.nz) detailed property information and reports on over 2.1 million New Zealand properties. By clicking on the link at the bottom of the Results box you will be taken directly to the same property in Terranet. From there you will either need to login (if you are a current Terranet user) or set up a casual account (if you are not).

Tip: Terranet gives you access to more detailed property information for purchase that is not available in eMap.

Add feature

The Results box allows you to “Add a Feature” to the list already populated in the box by selecting the “Add feature” tool found in the bottom left hand corner of the Results box. This allows you to add one feature at a time, and is useful for building a customised list. Just click on the item you wish to add to your list.

Tip: If you would like to add subsequent items you will need to re-click on "Add feature".

Favourite

The Favourite button at the bottom of the Results box allows you to add the detail currently in the box to your favourites (for example, the list you have built, the property you have navigated to). Just click the Favourites icon and follow the prompt.

Print

The Print icon on the Results box will allow you to print the contents of the Results box in a printer friendly PDF format. This PDF will (generally) open in a new window.

Tip: If you are having issues accessing this information, check that your pop up blocker is disabled for eMap. This normally shows as a notification at the top of your browser.

The Draw and Measure box is accessed from the Toolbox, found on the top Navigation bar of eMap. On opening the box you will be presented with a range of draw tools. The function of each is outlined below:

• Add Point - draws a point on the map for each click of the mouse button

• Add Line - from a starting point, each click on the map defines the beginning and end point of a segment of the line. You must double click the left mouse button to complete the line

• Trace a Freehand line - from your starting point, click and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse where you want the line to be drawn. Release the left mouse button to finish

• Add Polygon - from your starting point, each time you click on the map a vertex or corner will be added. When you are drawing a polygon it is best to draw in a clockwise rotation. You must double click the left mouse button to complete the polygon

Tip: Think of a polygon as a rubber band and each time you click on the map you are gluing the rubber band to that point on the map.

• Trace a Freehand polygon - from your starting point, after you press the left mouse button down on the map at the start, hold it down and move the mouse around the map

Tip: The polygon is drawn following the mouse location until the left mouse button is released.

• Add a Rectangle - draws a rectangle area or polygon - usually from a top left corner to a bottom right corner (hold down the mouse to start and let go to finish)

• Add Text - writes text on your map in the position you choose by using a mouse click with the left button

• Delete graphics - clears your drawing and text

  
  
  • Undoes the last drawing, redoes the last undo
  • Turns measurements on and off, by default this is on
  • Choose colour, by clicking bottom right hand corner
  • Change width of border, or point size

Save my drawing/open my drawing

eMap allows you to save drawings to export to your desktop (for later re-loading) or to share with other eMap users. These are exported as .KML files.

Save my drawing

Once you are ready to save your drawing, click the "Save my drawing" icon at the bottom of the Draw and Measure box. You will be presented with a prompt asking if you would like to save your drawing. On selecting "OK" you will be asked where on your computer you would like to save it. eMap will present a prompt when the drawing has been successfully saved.

Tip: You must ensure the file name has the extension .KML included, e.g. mydrawing.KML.

Tip: This drawing can now be shared/emailed to other eMap users, or saved for later importing back into eMap.

Open my drawing

If you would like to open a previously saved/shared drawing, simply navigate to the Draw and Measure box (through the Toolbox) and select "Open drawing". You will be asked which drawing you would like to open from your computer. When opened successfully it will display the drawing in eMap.

Tip: Drawings that you want to open in eMap need to have a ".KML" extension.

Problems with draw and measure

If you are having problems with draw and measure:

• Make sure you have the right draw tool activated – the active tool will show as black (as opposed to grey when they are inactive)

• When you are saving a drawing, ensure the file you are saving has the extension ".KML" added to it

• When opening a drawing it also needs to be one with a ".KML" extension

Favourites are used to enhance your eMap user experience by allowing you to save favourite settings and searches. Favourites can be accessed a number of ways:

• From the bottom of the Results box, using the Favourites icon; this is the best way to save a "favourite" list/search result

• From the top Navigation bar on the Results box – "Favourites" tab. This takes you to all the favourites you have saved

• From the left hand Navigation bar – this allows you to save your "favourite" workspace set up/extent

Tip: The best way to review and activate your "favourites" is from the Toolbox in the top Navigation bar of eMap.

Saved search, list or result

You can save favourite searches, lists or results to Favourites by clicking on the Star icon on a Results box, once the search has been completed. When you click to save a search, list or result, a default name may be given which you are free to alter. If a favourites name is the same as an existing favourite, you will be prompted to enter an alternate name. There is no limit to the number of saved favourites that you can have.Tip: Choose your own name to make the favourite more memorable to you. To reactivate a saved search, simply navigate back to the Favourites box and select the "favourite" you would like to reinstate.

Saved workspace

You can save your preferred workspace set up by clicking on the Favourites icon on the left hand Navigation of eMap. This allows you to save the current set up/state of:

• Current extent / zoom level
• Layers (turned on / off)
• Box (show / hide and screen position)

A prompt will ask you to name and save the current extent. To reactivate a saved workspace, simply navigate back to the Favourites box and select the "workspace" you would like to reinstate.

Tip: We recommend including "workspace" or something similar in the name of this favourite when you save it.

Deleting Favourites

Favourites can easily be deleted from the "Favourites" box. Each saved favourite has a delete button against it. A simple click on this button will delete the favourite.

Problems with Favourites

If you are having problems with favourites:

• Ensure you name your favourites with a name that is meaningful to you for easy recall

• Adding "workspace" to your favourite workspaces will make them easier to identify

Use the Print icon located in the top menu bar to print from the map. You have the choice to print a PDF map or a screen capture.

Print a PDF map

Use the following instructions to print a PDF map from eMap:

1. Once you have the map view you would like to print, select "Print" from the Toolbox menu on the top Navigation bar in eMap; this will open the Print menu item.

Tip: Print will only print the current map (view/extent) and not any boxes that you have open at the time.

2. Complete or update print options as required – for example, map print title, print orientation, quality etc.
3. Click the "Print Map" button.
4. A PDF will either open in a new browser window, or you will be asked to choose a location on your computer to save the map.

Tip: You may need to check that your browser allows pop ups.

5. Print the downloaded map using "normal" print options, i.e. either choosing Print from your browser's "File" menu, or hitting the Print icon.

Save a map screen capture

eMap also allows you to save a screen capture of the current map view. This differs from "Print PDF" as it allows you to save the current map view with no border/other information. For example, this is useful when you would like to include a map image in other documentation.

1. Once you have the map view you would like to print, select "Print" from the Toolbox menu on the top Navigation bar in eMap; this will open the Print menu item.
2. Select "Save current view as an image".
3. Your file save window will open and you will be prompted to save the image in the desired location.

Problems with print

If you are having problems with print:

• Check that there is not a message showing in your browser to say there is a pop up

eMap layers are available to you that represent the themes or services. For example, a map layer is the type of data shown on the map, such as roads, addresses or aerial images.

Accessing Map Layers

All layers available to you are shown in the Layers box. This box can be accessed by clicking on the "Toolbox" button (found on the top Navigation bar of eMap) and selecting "Layers".

You can easily turn layers on and off by checking/un-checking the relevant layers.

Tip: Some layers will only work on some views, for example Aerial Overlay will give you a Street map overview for the Aerial eMap view.

Tip: Christchurch Post Quake imagery is available for the whole of Christchurch. Again, this can only be used with Aerial View.

Metadata

Metadata showing the currency for each of the data layers is available by clicking on the icon. A pop up will appear that gives you the source and date the data was last modified.

Transparency

The Transparency tab under the Layers box allows you to control the transparency of layers you have turned on in your map view.

For example, if you have the Christchurch Post Quake imagery on, then transparency control will allow you to fade in/out of pre and post quake imagery.

Legend

A Map Legend is a key to all of the symbols used on a map. The eMap Legend is accessed from the Layers box where it has its own tab.

It shows all legend items relevant for the layers and view you currently have turned on in eMap. For example, if you have the Street view on, then the legend will be populated with all relevant legend items.

If you subscribe to eMap+ or eMap+ advanced you may have content stored in databases, spreadsheets, or other sources that you'd like to display on eMap; for example you might have a customer list or a set of assets at specific locations. You can import this content into eMap provided it has coordinate information associated with it and is in a file format eMap can read, such as a .csv file (comma separated values) or a .ZIP file containing .shp file (esri shapefile) which has uniformly fixed width fields up to 255 characters in length.

For files containing addresses but with no X/Y co-ordinates or location references, you can contact our call centre on 0508 483 772 to discuss matching (or geocoding) of your address information (so they can be placed on the map).

To import data use the “Import your data” option in eMap.

To select a file to import first choose Tool box menu > Import your data.

You are then presented with the Import your data option.

To download a template for Importing into eMap

Click here to download a set of templates.

In the attached Zipfile are the eMap Schema Files for users to upload your information. The file includes the templatesf or CSV, and for Shapefiles for Edit Line, Point and Polygon.

Use these templates to properly map your data to the correct fields within eMap, and to make sure your data gets loaded in the correct format.  You will need to make sure, if you are importing a Shapefiles, that you combine all the relevant Shapefiles together into a .ZIP file.

To browse for a file to import

Select ‘Upload File’.

In the File Open dialog box, browse for your files with a .csv, or .shp file extension. Once you've chosen a file, the Import Wizard will display that the file is uploading.

Note: the File Open dialog box has been limited to show only .csv or .ZIP file for eMap+advanced.

You should see the following results for your import.

Trouble shooting file importing

When importing a file you have to make sure your CSV or ZIP file have the correct fields for your data to be displayed with eMap. eMap has certain display fields which are listed below. If you put in ‘Company Name’ as a field, instead of ‘Title’ for example (which is the supported field), the import wizard will not recognise ‘Company Name’, the data cannot be mapped and therefore will not be displayed in eMap.

To make sure you follow the correct format you can view the import template files by clicking here.

There are 14 fields available for imported data in eMap. These fields are used by both CSV imports and shapefile imports. CSV imports have an additional two fields to specify the coordinates of each imported point. Zipped shapefiles by their nature already have coordinates.

Only the field names below may be specified in the import file. eMap will not import a CSV file with unknown fields. The first row of a CSV file states the fields to be imported and their order.

Shapefiles will need the data mapped to the field. Unknown fields will be ignored. The order of the fields is not important.

Empty fields may be omitted. For example, if your data does not have any post office box information, then you do not need to include PO_BOX in your import data.

The maximum length of most fields is 200 characters. The exceptions are: ST_NUM is limited to 25 characters, DESCRIPTION and NOTE1 can import 255 characters each.

Text fields should be quoted. eMap will attempt to convert unquoted numbers into dates.

What happens if my data doesn’t have coordinates?

You can call our call centre here and they will be happy to help sort out the geocoding of your data. Please call 0508 483 772.

Does eMap support different projections other than NZTM for import?

eMap does not currently support projections other than NZTM (New Zealand Transverse Mercator); however we are working to offer a translation service for other projections.

What if I want to change the fields to better reflect my data?

eMap can support alias fields, but for importing purposes you need to follow the above set of fields.

I’ve created a file based on your instructions but it still won’t import?

Please give us a call if you are having difficulty importing your data. We have a set of messages that we can have a look at here to help ascertain what the issue may be.

Can I use symbols in eMap?

Use of symbols in imports are supported in text fields, such as the Description and Reference fields.  It should also be noted that text fields need the contents quoted – i.e. "your data content goes here”.

Is there a file limit when importing?

1,000 rows for CSV and eMap+ and 5mb of data is supported for eMap+ advanced.

What happens if I import the same file?

Currently all imports are handled as “add to existing” import, that is data will be duplicated if it is the same as data that already exists in eMap.  For example, if you already have data located at 6 Buick Street, and this is re-imported, 2 “Your data” items will exist at this location.

We suggest to avoid this duplication, that you do not import data that has already been previously loaded into eMap.  We are working on offering a “replace all” or “append to existing” service in the near future.

What happens if I have imported my data but cannot see it?

You will need to refresh your application to see the imported data on eMap – this is simply done by a pan or zoom action.

Note: eMap does not automatically zoom to the location of the data that has been imported.

I am trying to re-import a previously exported ZIP file and keep getting an error. Help.

On exporting ZIP shape files eMap places these within a sub folder in the ZIP file. To be able to re-import this data, these files need to be taken out of this sub folder and imported as straight .ZIP files.

We are working to streamline this process.

Can I import different types of shape files at the same time, for example lines and polygons?

Files need to be imported on a type by type basis, that is, points, lines or polygons. Imports cannot contain multiple shape types.

What Shapefiles need to be included in the .ZIP file for importing?

The following files need to be included in the .Zip file for a Shapefile import to be successful:

The tool that allows you to export data from eMap (“Export your data”) is accessed from the eMap toolbox. The version of eMap (eMap+ or eMap+ advanced) you have will impact on the amount of data you are able to export and the format in which you are able to export it (CSV or Shapefile).

To export data use the “Export your data” option in eMap.

First choose Tool box menu > Export your data.

You are then presented with the Export your data option.

To export your data, follow this 3 step process

eMap+

1. Users of eMap+ are only able to export point data.

2. Using Step1 – select the area you wish to export points by selecting one of the 3 tools.

3. As you can only export points in a CSV format, once you have selected you area you can click ‘Export’

eMap+ advanced

1. Users of eMap+ advanced are able to export points lines and polygons.

2. Using Step1 – select the area you wish to export points by selecting one of the 3 tools provided.

3. Using Step 2 - select the type of data you would like to export – points, lines, polygons or territories.

4. Using step 3 - select the file format you would like to export to (emap+ users will only be able to export to .CSV file).

5. Click the “Export” button.

6. Once the export is completed, you will be presented with a prompt confirming that a data file has been created, asking where you would like to save it:

7. Name the file when saving

Note: you need to add the appropriate file extension to the end of this name (.CSV for CSV files and .ZIP for ZIP files).

8. Ensure you choose a location for the export that you can easily locate at a later date and click Save.

9. Your export is complete when you are presented with the “Download complete” message in the “Export your data” tool.

I am trying to export Shapefiles but am having trouble – can you help?

You will need to make sure you are an eMap+ advanced user (Shapefile export is not available to those with eMap or eMap+).

Why can’t I export addresses, imagery or road information from eMap?

Currently we only allow for users to export their own location based data from eMap. If you need a supply of additional eMap data, then please call our call centre 0508 483 772 to discuss what options are available.

Help – I can’t seem to get the data I would like to export.

Please give us a call on 0508 483 772 if you are having difficulty exporting your data. We would be more than happy to help.

We also offer webinars (online seminars) run by our trainers as targeted sessions that will build your knowledge and expertise of eMap. All you need is your eMap login and your computer. Contact us on 0508 483 772 or info@emap.co.nz for more information.

The eMap helpdesk is available to help you Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm. Call us on 0508 483 772 or email us at info@emap.co.nz