| Purpose | How it Works | Requirements | Installing | Download | Contacts |
To convert a simple ArcPlot map to a HTML image and imagemap. The imagemap hot spots can be generated from either point features or polygon features. The images can be output in either JPEG or GIF formats.
Portions of the IMAGEMAP.AML code are based on input code from Ian L Thomas of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, MD.
The AML application takes a point or polygon coverage with a field setup to correspond to a URL in a website and creates a HTML image and corresponding imagemap (clickable image).
To create the image, a map is drawn in ArcPlot on the screen with a user-supplied AML or with a simple default design. The image conversion follows one of two paths to transform the ArcPlot screen map to a HTML image file. If the JPEG image option was selected, the ArcPlot screen is saved to a Postcript file and ArcPress is used to convert it to a JPEG image. If the user choose to create a GIF image, the ArcPlot screen is saved as a Sun raster image and is then converted with the Netpbm utilities to a GIF file. Netpbm is available for UNIX platforms on the web at http://sourceforge.net/projects/netpbm. Netpbm has not been ported to Windows NT.
To create the imagemap, the coordinates of the points or the polygon boundary vertices are transformed from real-world to image values and the imagemap is writtten out embedded in a HTML file.
A point coverage is setup with a character field containing a portion of a URL which will be combined with a template to create a unique link to another web page. The user must also define a radius in pixel units which will define the hot spot around the point. Hot spots are generated for all points in the coverage. The POINT2IMAGEMAP.AML is run to create a point-based imagemap.
A polygon coverage is setup with a character field containing a portion of a URL which will be combined with a template to create a unique link to another web page. Hot spots are generated for all polygons in the coverage. The POLYGON2IMAGEMAP.AML is run to create a polygon-based imagemap.
The contents of the distribution are the readme file, 3 AML program files 3 AML menu files and 3 help files:
IMAGEMAP.AML is the engine which performs the map to imagemap conversions.
POINT2IMAGEMAP.AML is a front end for running IMAGEMAP.AML to create a point imagemap.
POLYGON2IMAGEMAP.AML is a front end for running IMAGEMAP.AML to create a polygon (or area) imagemap.
The menu files are called by the AML of the same name to collect input from the user.
The help files are called by the menus to assist the user in understanding what the menu is asking for.
Unzip the contents of the zip file to a single directory, which could be the ArcInfo Atool directory or a custom ATOOL directory.
Before using, POINT2IMAGEMAP.AML and POLYGON2IMAGEMAP.AML require the following modification:
In IMAGEMAP.AML, the following lines should be modified:
The Washington State Department of Ecology provides these AML programs "as is." Ecology makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of the algorithms contained in the programs. Ecology further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although these programs have been run successfully on computers at Ecology, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by Ecology regarding the use of these programs on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty.
In no event shall Ecology have any liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the programs or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by Ecology.
Download the Imagemap distribution.
The distribution file is in Zip format, 15Kb size.
Dan Saul
GIS Technical Services
Washington State Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, Washington 98504-7600
Phone: (360) 407-6419
Fax: (360) 407-6493
E-Mail: dan.saul@ecy.wa.gov
Last updated on November 1, 2000 by Dan Saul