Map Properties
The Map Properties controls various options for an XPlot map.
Contents
- 1 Standard Options
- 2 Options for Custom Maps
- 2.1 Plot Style
- 2.2 Current Plot Color
- 2.3 History Plot Color
- 2.4 History Plot Color 2
- 2.5 Color Change Date
- 2.6 Show Plot Trace
- 2.7 Trace Weight
- 2.8 Show Speed
- 2.9 Day Limit
- 2.10 Auto Report Subject Flag
- 2.11 Remote Type
- 2.12 Build XJournal (Blog) Links
- 2.13 Link URL Override
- 2.14 Enable Google Maps
- 2.15 Google Earth Header
- 2.16 Custom Placemark
- 2.17 Speed Fence
Standard Options
Map Type
SailBlogs maps have been designed to provide quick reference to your current location relative to your previous positions as well as major land masses. NOTE: The map is not intended to be used as navigation or replace a chart, and cannot be "zoomed".
Map type can be one of two options, Coastal (default) or Offshore. Offshore offers a slightly wider view to show progress between continents and avoid "blue maps" (maps that show only water with no reference).
Legend Title
A text field for indication of boat name or blog title.
Enable Google Earth
When checked, a Google Earth network feed (a way for Google Earth to always show current data) will automatically be created. In addition, a link to the feed will appear on the map page of your blog. Refer to the Google Earth Homepage for more information.
Options for Custom Maps
The following options are only available to custom integrations of SailBlogs.
Plot Style
Standard cross or circle.
Current Plot Color
Hex value. The color used to represent the most recent position point.
History Plot Color
Hex value. The color used to represent the non-current plot points.
History Plot Color 2
Hex value. The color used to represent the non-current plot points older than Color Change Date (see below).
Color Change Date
Date to switch history colors. Can be used to show inbound and outbound legs, for example, or after crossing a halfway point, etc.
Show Plot Trace
Yes/No. Connect the points with a line.
Trace Weight
Trace line weight, in pixels.
Show Speed
Yes/No. Show the current speed value in the legend.
Day Limit
Yes/No. If on (checked), map will only show one position only report per day. This is a performance feature designed to limit the number of positions on the map that are received via automatic position reporting devices. With this enabled, the current position is still always the most recent, and positions with blog posts will always be plotted on the map.
Auto Report Subject Flag
Key, ID, or vessel name used in the automatic positions being received from a satellite tracking unit.
Remote Type
Type of unit sending automatic position reports.
Build XJournal (Blog) Links
Yes/No. Build links to blog posts when position is submitted with a post.
Link URL Override
Will override the default sailblogs.com link in the map and use this instead. Useful when the website is using the SailBlogs API and the domain is not sailblogs.com.
Enable Google Maps
Build Google Map data in addition to the standard XPlot map.
Google Earth Header
Override the standard SailBlogs Google Earth KML header information with the data here. Useful for customized solutions needing additional layers, graphics, balloon styles, etc.
Custom Placemark
Main article: Custom Placemark Template
Override the standard SailBlogs placemark with the information here. Used to build custom balloons, etc.
Speed Fence
Main article: Speed Fence
Color Range, in knots. There are 7 color ranges to a speed fence. A value of 4, for example, will set up the 7 ranges to have values of:
- 0-3 Kts.
- 4-7 Kts.
- 8-11 Kts.
- 12-15 Kts.
- 16-19 Kts.
- 20-23 Kts.
- 24-27 Kts.
A value other than zero will enable the speed fence.