Ortelius Macintosh Map Making Software by Mapdiva, LLC

Ortelius drawing files are saved natively as Ortelius_map files. Your drawing files can be exported to PDF, TIFF, JPEG and PNG file formats.

File format-specific options are available, as well as the option to include the graph paper grid in your export.

For best results, consider your purpose and what format you will need for your map during drawing setup. On any given project, determining from the beginning what file format is required is a best practice – particularly if you have publication standards that must be met! In the most general terms, static web graphics require a 72 dpi resolution and will typically use JPEG or PNG formats. Printing for publication typically requires 300 dpi (dots per inch) resolution.

The file formats TIFF, JPEG, and PNG output raster-based graphics files. In general, JPEG and PNG files are useful for making a web images or graphics not intended for printing. For maps, plans, and other drawings that are primarily represented with vector graphics such as Ortelius produces, PNG will typically give crisper results. ‘PNG’ stands for Portable Network Graphics format, a format for storing bitmapped (raster) images. Interlaced PNG files, though slightly larger file size than non-interlaced, can improve display times on slow (modem) Internet connections – perhaps less of an issue than in the old days. ‘JPEG’ stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group; it’s great for photographs but not really intended for representing vector graphics, thus is recommended when an image (such as an aerial photograph or scanned map) is the background for your drawing. ‘TIFF’ stands for Tagged Image File Format and is widely supported by image-manipulation applications, by publishing, and page layout applications. TIFF alpha transparency is a supported export option.

Apple’s Preview(TM) application is an excellent tool for viewing and adjusting exported Ortelius graphics (and is a free application included with the OS). Several functions are available, such as clipping images, adjusting size, and matching image color profiles. A note about viewing exported graphics in Preview: The default preferences for images is to scale them to fit the document window. To view images at their actual size, set the Preview > Preferences > Images to actual size and to respect the image and screen DPI for scale.

‘PDF’ stands for Portable Document Format and is the only export format that produces vector-based images. Ortelius drawings exported to PDF format retain their vector properties and are therefore scalable without loss in resolution. If your map will be enlarged or reduced for publication, PDF is our recommended export format. PDF is also a good choice for creating a zoomable map, and for example to view with Adobe Reader(TM) or Apple Preview(TM).

Exported PDF graphics naturally preserve their background transparency. Like other graphic formats, PDFs can be placed as graphics into other software programs, such as Microsoft Word(TM) and Apple Pages(TM), and will respect image wrapping settings. PDF graphics may also be placed into Ortelius drawings. For example, use the Image Browser to place a PDF graphic of an inset map created in one Ortelius drawing file, into another drawing file. Because it is vector-based, the graphic will scale without loss of resolution in your new document.

Note, PDF is a file format created by Adobe Systems and is the native file format for Adobe Illustrator(TM) – except with a different file extension (AI). Maps exported as PDF are saved as vector files and can be opened by Adobe Illustrator (TM), though due to different tool sets and for best results we do not recommend extensive editing of Ortelius PDF files in Illustrator(TM).

Zoom-in or zoom-out of your drawing.

There are several ways to zoom in or out of the drawing:

1. Use the Navigation tools in the Tools palette. To zoom-in, click the magnifying glass Zoom In tool and click-and-drag onto your map over the area you want to enlarge. Click once to enlarge the map a click at a time. To zoom-out, click the Zoom Out tool and click once to reduce the map a click at a time. The shortcut for ‘Fit-to window” is to double-click the Pan tool. The shortcut for Actual Size or 100% is to double-click the Zoom In tool.

2. Choose a magnification level from the View pop-up menu at the bottom left of the window. It’s often useful to “fit to window” so that you can see your entire map at once.

3. Under the main menu, choose View > Zoom In, or View > Zoom Out. To return a drawing to its actual size, choose View > Actual Size. To return a drawing to fit the display window, choose View > Zoom To Fit.

To move across the page, use the Pan tool (hand) to grab, hold down your mouse button, and drag the map into position.

Ortelius makes extensive use of "drag-and-drop." Symbols, styles, images, and more use the drag-and-drop interface. If it looks like you might be able to drag-and-drop something, try it!

Customizing the Toolbar

The Ortelius toolbar gives you one-click access to many of the actions you’ll use when working with drawings.

As you work in Ortelius and get to know which actions you perform most often, you can add, remove, and rearrange toolbar buttons to suit your working style. To see a description of what a button does, hold the pointer over the button.

To customize the toolbar:

1 Choose View > Customize Toolbar, or choose the Customize icon in the toolbar. The Customize Toolbar sheet appears.

2. Make changes to the toolbar as desired.
– To add an item to the toolbar, drag its icon to the toolbar.
– To remove an item from the toolbar, drag it out of the toolbar.
– To restore the default set of toolbar buttons, drag the default set to the toolbar.
– To make the toolbar icons smaller, select Use Small Size.
– To show only icons or only text, choose an item from the Show pop-up menu.
– To rearrange items in the toolbar, drag them to position.

3. Click Done.

You can also perform several toolbar customization activities without using the Customize Toolbar sheet:

1. Remove an item from the toolbar by pressing the Command key while dragging the item out of the toolbar.

2. Move an item by pressing the Command key while dragging the item around in the toolbar.

To show or hide the toolbar, choose View > Show Toolbar or View > Hide Toolbar from the main menu or click the white pill button at top right of window frame.

Layers are a traditional way to organize map information and graphics. Set up layers to hold different type of map features and other map elements. For example, all roads would be drawn on a layer that is named “Roads.”

Layers control the drawing order of your map features, with objects in upper layers “drawn on top” of objects in lower layers.

The Layers list is visable by default. To show or hide the map layers list, click the Layers icon in the menu bar. Alternatively, choose View > Hide Layers / Show Layers from the main menu.

Click onto a layer name in the Layers list to activate the layer (designated by the white arrow).

By default, objects in the currently active layer can be selected and manipilated. To select an object, click onto the layer to which it belongs first to make the layer active.

The active layer is designated by a white arrow to the left of the layer name. A dot at the left of the layer name indicates there is one or more objects within the layer that remain selected, even though the layer is no longer active.

HINT: If you want to enable any object to be selectable, regardless of which layer is currently active, choose Layer > Auto-Activate Clicked Layer from the main menu. When Auto-Activate Clicked Layer is enabled, the active layer will follow the current object selection. Keep in mind that this may make it more difficult to keep objects organized while drawing.

Organizing your map and drawing objects by layers is a key concept in Ortelius.

When you draw in Ortelius, you are drawing on the active layer. A white arrow on the layers list indicates which layer is active. Highlighting indicates the selected layer and typically is the same as the active layer.

Drag to re-order layers. Click the “+” and “–” icons to add or delete layers. Layers can be locked and unlocked to control further editing, as well as made hidden or visible. Color-wells indicate the color of the selection handles when an object on that layer is selected. To set the color, click the well and choose a new color in the pop-up menu.

To stay organized with layers, keep similar map features (such as roads and streams) on their own layers.

When geographic information system (GIS) Shapefile map data are imported, objects from these files are automatically placed on their own layers.

Related topic: Layer Behavior

To add a new layer, click the “+” in the lower left portion of the Layers view, or choose Layer > New Drawing Layer from the main menu.

Delete the selected (highlighted) layer by clicking the “-” in the lower left portion of the Layers view, or right-click in the layer view and select “Delete Layer” to remove the selected layer.

To rename a layer, double click the layer name in the Layer view and enter a new layer name, or right-click in the layer view and select “Rename” to change the name of the selected layer.

To change the stack order of layers, click onto the layer and drag it up or down in the Layer list. Alternatively, choose Layer > Arrange > Bring to Front, Bring Forward, Send Backward, or Send to Back.

Layer groups can keep multiple layers managed together. Add a layer group by right-clicking the Layers pane and choosing New Layer Group, or choosing Layer > New Layer Group from the main menu. For example, you may want to keep rivers, lakes, and wetland layers in a layer group called “water features.” Add layers to a layer group by dragging the layers into it.

To move existing drawing objects from one layer to a new layer, simply select the objects and choose Layer > Move To > New Layer from the main menu. A new layer will be created and the object(s) will be placed.

Alternatively, move existing objects to an existing layer by selecting the objects and choosing Layer > Move To > and choose the move-to layer from the list.

In the Layers view, toggle the “show” (eye) icon in the layer list to show or hide a layer. Toggle the lock/unlock icon to prevent or enable a layer for editing.

To open the Tools Palette, click the Tools icon on the toolbar, or choose Window > Tools from the main menu.

By default, Ortelius tools are “sticky” – the tool will remain active until you choose a different tool. Depending on the task at hand, having the tools revert immediately to the Select tool after each use may be preferred.

All tools will be in the “sticky state” (orange) until you double-click on any tool to release them (grey). In the non-sticky state, click a tool once to “turn it on” and use it once. Afterward, you’ll default back to the direct Select tool. To make tools sticky again, double click on any tool.

The direct Select tool is shaped like an arrow and is the most commonly used tool to select and manipulate drawing objects. Select is the default resting state for the Drawing Tools palette.

Linear Select™ is used to highlight and select portions of connectable tracks (see “Using Linear Select” for a complete description on this powerful tool).

Use the robust graphics tools to draw unlimited shapes, lines and smooth Bezier curves. Cut, or split, paths and tracks with the Cut Path tool using a cutting gesture. Insert text boxes or add curved text along paths. Fine-tune your drawing objects by adding or deleting vertices.

For an example showing the specific behavior of each tool, see “Tool – Object Behavior.”

To learn how to use the Drawing Tools, see the hands-on exercises available in the Getting Started guide.

Among the most powerful aspects of Ortelius is its use of special cartography tools, including Tracks, Symbol Stamp, and Style Dropper.

Tracks are objects which are connectable with other tracks, special objects, and symbols. These connector tracks look similar to regular drawing objects, but they are indeed special. Use connector tracks when you want clean junctions and intersections with linear features, such as road networks and waterways.

Tracks are used in combination with the Linear Select tool to insert special objects, such as bridges and tunnels (these are found under Edit > Insert Special in the main menu). You can even seamlessly insert different line styles along the same path. Use tracks when you want to snap point symbols or feature labels directly to a line. For more information, see “Using Linear Select.”

Straight Track, Curved Track, Polygonal Track, and Freehand Track tools are available.

Use the Symbol Stamp tool to place point symbols, road signs, sequential markers, and more from the Symbols Palette.

Use the Style Dropper to quickly copy a style from an existing object to other objects. Just make the tool “sticky” and click from one object to copy the style to another.

Drawing Objects

Note that drawing tools work with both fill and line styles. For example, the Irregular Polygon can create filled areas when applying fill styles from the Symbols palette and linear objects when applying line styles.

Bezier curves and freehand lines contain curve handles at points along the path. When Bezier curves are placed, their curve handles are symmetrical in length and direction. Freehand line curve handles may be asymmetrical in length as the line is drawn. Curves are easily adjusted after placement by dragging the curve handles, shown in blue.

When adjusting curve handles, the length of the left and right ends of the handle are adjusted independently. Modifier keys provide control over curve handle adjustments.

Hold the SHIFT key to constrain the angle of the handles to 15-degree increments.

Hold the ALT/OPTION key to keep the length of the curve handles symmetrical to each other when making adjustments.

Hold the CMND (Apple) key while moving the curve handles to adjust them independently of each other, including length and direction.

Tracks are objects which are connectable with other tracks, special objects, and symbols. Use connector tracks when you want clean junctions and intersections with linear features, such as road networks and waterways. For more information, see “Using Linear Select.”

No more digging through menus to find the rotate command. With Ortelius you rotate objects directly. Notice the rotation handle (purple dot) on the selected drawing object. Ortelius lets you keep your attention where it ought to be – on your map. Simply use the Select tool to grab the rotate handle and spin.

To rotate an object around a specific point, drag the center target where you want it – the object will rotate around that point.

To rotate several objects around a common point, group them then set the rotation center for the group and rotate. Ungroup afterwards if required.

Objects can have their positions locked independently of the general lock. In this state they are fully active except for being moved. This feature is accessible using Graphic > (OPT key) Lock/Unlock Position and also through the Object Inspector. The Select tool treats objects having a locked position as for a generally locked object – since it can’t be moved the select tool initiates a drag-selection if clicked in an object whose position is locked.

Locking the position of objects is helpful when working with map area features, such as from Shapefiles.

Object locking is in effect for the current session only, as the locked position setting will not be saved after the file is closed.

♥ Hands-on exercises. See Ortelius File > New From Template > Exercises & Demos > 5-Symbols Exercise.

To open the Symbols Palette, click the Styles & Symbols icon on the toolbar, or choose Window > Styles & Symbols from the main menu.

Styles are applied to linear features such as roads and rivers, and area features such as land and forests. Symbols are applied to point features such as cities and points of interest. To draw in Ortelius, choose your tool, then choose the appropriate style or symbol to apply to that tool while it is active. To change the style of an existing object, just select the object and choose a different style from the Symbols Palette.

The following are available from the Symbols Palette:

Styles – Saved combinations of outlines, fills, text, and other style components that are applied to shapes, paths, and tracks to represent features, such as land, roads, and lakes.

Symbols – Graphical objects used to represent isolated features, markers, and map elements, such as points of interest and north arrows.

Styles and symbols share some similar properties (for instance, symbols can be created from objects which have styles applied), but they have different characteristics. Styles are made up of outlines, fills, and effects which are applied to shapes, paths, and tracks; whereas symbols are isolated graphical objects or groups of objects (for instance, shapes or images) which are placed at a single point with the Symbol Stamp tool.

Related Topic: You can create and edit an unlimited variety of styles in the Style Inspector.
Related Topic: Symbols are created from existing graphic objects by choosing Edit > Create Symbol in the main menu (see Creating New Symbols).

Taken together, styles and symbols represent all of your map’s features.

Ortelius comes loaded with over 1700 built-in styles and symbols. The palette has many features in common with the Library Manager, and works similarly. To select the current set of symbols to work with, choose it from the drop-down menu which shows all libraries, collections, and categories. You can further filter using the filter/search field to find styles or symbols within the current collection or category.

While styles and symbols are both present in the Symbols Palette, the palette is sensitive to the type of tool you have active. For example, when you draw line and area features with the shape, path, and track tools the styles are enabled; symbols are enabled only when the Symbol Stamp tool is being used. Choose your tool, then choose the appropriate style or symbol to apply to that tool while it is active. Items that can be used with the active tool are enabled and highlighted, disabled items are subtly grayed-out, for example in this screenshot symbols are enabled, styles are disabled.

To add or change an object’s style or symbol, select those features on the map and choose a new style from the Symbols Palette. You are asked to confirm this application to prevent accidental alteration of your content. This confirmation message is an alert that can be turned on or off in the Ortelius > Preferences menu.

Related Topis: Use Find Objects or Advanced Search to select specific features by their names, properties, and attributes.

Some symbols may be quite small and difficult to see in the Symbols Palette. Two settings control the appearance of symbols and styles in the Symbols Palette. Choose S-M-L (small-medium-large) to change the size of the palette buttons (use the Customize button to add or remove items on the palette toolbar). Right-click within the palette window to uncheck “No Larger Than Actual Size” to have small symbols enlarge to the symbol button area for better viewing. Items are displayed at actual size or smaller when checked.

An icon or list view is also available.

Use the Symbol Stamp tool to place symbols on your map. Choose a symbol from the palette that is enabled for use.

HINT: Remember you can double-click any tool to return them to the natural on/off state (grey buttons) or the default “sticky” state (orange buttons).

The best way to apply styles is to draw directly with the feature you want – roads with a road style, water with a water style. Start by choosing a Drawing Tool, next choose the style to apply, then start drawing.

Use the Style Dropper tool to copy a style from one object and paste onto another. Click onto a first object to copy the style, clicking onto subsequent objects will paste the style. Return to the direct Select tool (or any other tool) to end the Style Dropper. To pick up a new style, press the OPTION/Alt key while clicking an object with the style dropper tool. The style dropper cursor will show whether dropper is “full” (will drop) or “empty” (will pick up). Having the Style Dropper tool always retain the last picked-up style is a preference that can be turned on or off in the Ortelius > Preferences menu – when this option is enabled use the OPTION/Alt key to release the style.

Styles and symbols can be dragged from the Symbols Palette (as well as from the Library Manager) onto objects in your drawing. Styles must be dragged onto linear, shape, and text objects, whereas symbols must be dragged onto point symbol objects. Styles may also be dragged directly onto Border Layers.

Double clicking an item in the Symbols Palette opens it in the Library Manager.

The Object Inspector provides for close inspection and editing of all your drawing objects and map features. The Object Inspector is context-sensitive, so its function will vary based on the type of object(s) you have selected.

To open the Object Inspector, click the Object Inspector icon on the toolbar, or choose Window > Object Inspector from the main menu.

Geometry displays the object’s geometric and location properties. You can edit object sizes and rotation angle from the Object Inspector. Note that units are displayed in the same unit of measure specified in the Drawing Setup. You can individually lock graphics, as well as make them visible or hidden, or “ghosted” (a handy feature to temporarily eliminate clutter and improve performance in complex maps during the drawing process).

More than an ordinary vector drawing program, Ortelius’ drawing objects are “smart.” With the Object Inspector, you can create and view information (data) attributes associated with every map feature you draw. When importing existing map data (that is, Shapefiles*) the object’s attribute information is accessed through the Object Inspector. Attributes can be used for Smart Select, automatic labeling, symbolization, and object manipulation.

To add attributes, click the “+” button in the lower left corner of the Attribute Editor. Choose the attribute type. A new attribute identifier is added and is available for editing.

Related topic: see Intelligent Labeling With Attributes to add automatic feature labels and quickly modify labels with easy Label Codes.

HINT: To add or edit attributes for multiple objects at one time, select those objects and open the Attribute Editor. Changes will apply to all objects selected.

Attribute information from a Shapefile is shown in the Object Inspector. The Object Inspector search bar is used to filter attribute information.

*Note: Shapefile support is limited in the Ortelius Standard edition. Some features, including georeferencing, are available only in the Professional edition of Ortelius (under development). Attribute information is retained in both Standard and Professional editions.

To quickly view and edit object attributes, choose Ortelius > Preferences in the main menu and activate the preference “Double-clicking objects opens the attribute editor.”

The Object Inspector is context-sensitive, which means it knows what type of object or objects you have selected and responds appropriately. The following describes the various capabilities of the Features pane within the Object Inspector:

Text
When text objects are selected, the Object Inspector’s Features pane provides options for formatting the text object. Options include changing font, style, color, and alignment. When placing labels over complex backgrounds, text casing with a colored outline can help keep labels clear.

Linear Tracks
The Features available when selecting a linear track include setting how the line ends are terminated (they can be open-ended (default), capped off with a bar, or end with a turning circle. You can also set the type of track so that only tracks having matching types will connect with each other, for example so that roads will not connect to waterways. You can change settings for Width Adaptors (used for transitioning between different line styles on a track). Finally, you can disconnect all junctions connecting to the track (may be used to reset a badly formed track).

Polygon Objects
Regular polygon controls are available through the Object Inspector’s Features pane. Note that all of the handles on the object are direct controls to manipulate the shape or rotate directly.

Point Symbols
Use the Object Inspector to scale point symbols. Data Transformers can be applied to symbols for dynamic symbols based on attributes (for example, sized or colored based on the information those symbols represent).

Image Objects
Sometimes the easiest way to start making your map will be to begin by tracing over an existing map or aerial photograph. But usually the saturation and color in the photo makes it hard to see your drawing objects. Place the image on a layer and use the Object Inspector to adjust the image opacity – creating a “tracing paper” effect. Move that layer to the bottom of the layer stacking order. Now in your drawing layers, start building your map.

The Library Manager is where all styles and symbols are organized into libraries, collections, and categories. Through this interface you will manage your symbol collections, as well as create and edit new symbols and styles.

To open the Library Manager, click the Library Manager icon on the toolbar, or choose Window > Library Manager from the main menu, or the CMND-5 keyboard shortcut (note, the Library Manager icon is not on the toolbar by default – you can add it by customizing the toolbar). The Library Manager uses an interface which is very similar to other applications such as Finder and iTunes, and this familiarity should make it quick and easy to learn and use.

The Library Manager’s left sidebar (1) lists the available libraries, collections, and categories, and its main window (2) displays items an icon view or list view. In the icon view, items are displayed in small, medium, or large sizes (3) and sorted using the right-click contextual menu. In the list view (4), items are sorted by clicking column headers or the contextual menu. To display item totals for collections and categories next to each item in the list, check the appropriate commands in the Action Menu (5) (looks like a gear). You can further filter the content displayed by entering text into the search/filter field (6). This removes items from the display that don’t match the filter settings. The toolbar at the top of the Library Manager window is customizable (7) as usual, and can be hidden.

The Library Manager contains three libraries – the Mapdiva Library, My Library, and Open Documents Library.

Mapdiva Library
The Ortelius software delivers with the Mapdiva Library containing a Built-In Collection with over 1700 classic styles and symbols ready to use for making maps and plans. Items in this library cannot be edited, though they can be reorganized into various categories and subcategories, and also copied (cloned) to My Library for further customization.

My Library
My Library is the primary location of user created symbols and styles. Collections are containers for organizing styles and symbols by project, map type, or theme. User styles and symbols created in pre-version 1.1 of Ortelius are automatically migrated to My Library on first launch of Ortelius 1.1. Organize your user created styles and symbols by adding new collections and categories and dragging items as desired.

Open Documents Library
When you draw anything in Ortelius — symbols, styles, map elements, or graphics — they are copied into your map document. Therefore, the original referenced symbols and styles are not required to open and display the map again. The Open Documents Library is populated with content that is read when the file is opened (it is not dynamic as you work with the file). Temporary collections are automatically assigned for each open document using the same name as the document; each containing three default categories: “All Items,” “All Styles,” and “All Symbols.” The collections are removed when a document is closed.

Because documents are allowed to use unnamed ad-hoc styles freely, the temporary collection in Open Documents Library will name ad-hoc styles “#Ad Hoc – n” where n is a sequential digit. To save styles and symbols from an open document for more widespread use, drag-and-drop them from the Open Documents Library to a collection in My Library and assign them a name. By default, they are named “#Ad Hoc – n (cloned from ‘File X’)” where File X is the open document name.

The Library Manager’s main function is to allow you to create and organize your own collections of styles and symbols. You can also import and export entire collections to collaborate with other users. As you work with the Library Manager, the Symbols Palette tracks every change allowing you to work with new styles and symbols immediately if you wish. Or, you may prefer to create a suitable collection for a particular project before you start work – it’s up to you.

Collections you create or import from other Ortelius users are added to My Library. (Note, additional collections supplied by Mapdiva are added to the Mapdiva Library.)

Collections, categories, and items have various settings which allow or prevent different levels of editing. As a general rule, collections in My Library are fully editable in that they can have their content freely changed, categories added, deleted, reorganized and renamed. Individual items may be locked or unlocked – only unlocked items can be edited, provided they belong to a Library which also permits it. In contrast, collections in the Mapdiva Library have more limited editing – the content cannot be changed but you can freely alter the organization of categories as you wish.

Creating Collections in My Library
To create a new empty collection, choose New Collection from the Action Menu or click the New Collection button. A new collection called “Untitled Collection” is added to My Library with its name selected ready to be edited. Type in a suitable name.

New collections have three default categories, “All Items”, “Recently Added” and “Recently Used”. These categories are automatically managed and can’t be removed – this is indicated by their names appearing in italic text. “All Items” contains every item in the collection, whether or not it also belongs to another category within the collection. When the collection itself is selected, the content of “All Items” is what is displayed. “Recently Added” contains the 16 most recently added items of the collection, and “Recently Used” contains the 16 most recently used items from this collection. A recently used item is one that was selected in the Symbols Palette (even if nothing actually got drawn using that style or symbol).

Deleting Collections
Deleting a collection deletes it, along with its entire contents (the styles and symbols it contains). Select the collection and choose “Delete Collection…” from the Action Menu, or right-click on a collection name and choose “Delete Collection…” from the contextual menu. After confirming, the entire collection – including its styles and symbols – is moved to the trash and removed from Ortelius. This action cannot be undone, and you will be prompted to confirm the deletion. Some collections, such as the Built-In Collection, cannot be deleted.

Moving Styles and Symbols Among Collections
Dragging styles and symbols among collections moves the items. By default this action does not copy the item, so it will be removed from the source collection and added to the destination collection. You can also move items to different collections by right-clicking and choosing a destination (or a New Collection) in the Move To > menu. If an item from a non-editable collection, such as the Mapdiva Library > Built-In Collection or Open Documents Library, is dragged to a collection in My Library, Ortelius will automatically copy the item and append “(cloned)” to the item name.

Items can be copied (cloned) by holding the OPTION(ALT) key when dragging an item among collections. Copied items are exact replicas of the original item but are in fact completely new items (to indicate the copy, the name is appended with “(cloned)”). This means that you can freely edit new items without affecting maps that were drawn using the original items. In contrast, if you edit an item that has been used to create a map, then all uses of that style or symbol will be changed to the most recent version when that map is next opened. This is an intentional feature, allowing you to modify a style or symbol and have it retrospectively applied to mapping projects you worked on in the past. So, if this behavior is undesirable, make copies of items before editing them.

Copying Categories Among Collections
Dragging a category (with its contents) from one collection to another copies it. A message prompts you to confirm to copy.

Categories keep your styles and symbols organized and easy to find. You can freely add categories to organize the collections, and categories can be nesting into subcategories.

Adding a New Category
To add a new category, click the ‘+’ button or choose “New Category” in the Action Menu. A new “untitled category” is added to the active collection (or, if you have selected a category, a new subcategory (child) of the selected category is added). Type a name for the category. A category can be renamed at any time by double-clicking its name and typing a new one. Category names must be unique within a collection.

Deleting Categories
To delete a category, select the category and click the ‘-’ button or choose “Delete Category…”. Deleting a category does not delete the styles and symbols it contains – items remain available in the “All Items” category unless intentionally deleted – but they may be harder to find later. This operation cannot be undone.

Adding Items to Categories
Individual styles and symbols can belong to one or more category within a collection. Items are organized into categories using drag-and-drop. Simply select the “All Items” category to show the content of the library, then drag items (shift-click to select multiple items) to the desired category in the left-hand list. To nest and unnest categories, just drag-and-drop the category where you want it.

Removing Items from Categories
To remove items from a category, select the items, right-click and choose “Remove From Category” from the contextual menu. Alternatively, select the category and drag items out of the window to some empty space. Removing an item from a category does not delete it from its collection – it will remain available in the “All Items” category unless intentionally deleted. Items can’t be removed from or directly added to any of the automatically managed categories, such as “All Items.”

In addition to normal categories, a special type of category exists called a “Smart Category.” Smart Categories are shown having a purple-colored icon.

Smart Categories work by filtering the entire collection based on a set of criteria you establish. As such their content is dynamic and will change automatically as items are added, removed and edited. Smart Categories are analogous to the similar Smart Folders and Smart Playlists feature in Finder and iTunes, respectively.

Adding a New Smart Category
To create a Smart Category, select the collection to add it to and choose New Smart Category… from the Action Menu. The criteria editor is opened ready to edit the category. You can build up the desired filter by combining different criteria as you wish; click ‘+’ to add a new criteria to the query, ‘-’ to remove a criteria. You can also limit the content to a fixed number of results if you wish. Click ‘Save’ to establish the Smart Category which will immediately display the content matching the query. Double-click the name or right-click and choose “Rename” from the contextual menu to change a Smart Category’s name.

Editing Smart Categories
Smart Categories are not directly editable in that you can’t drag items into or out of them, but you can edit the filter criteria. To edit the filter criteria, select the category and choose “Edit Smart Category…” from the Action Menu. The criteria editor is opened ready to edit the category.

Deleting Smart Categories
To delete a Smart Category, select the category and click the ‘-’ button or choose “Delete Category…”. Deleting a category does not delete the styles and symbols it contains – items remain available in the “All Items” category unless intentionally deleted. This operation cannot be undone.

Editing within the List View
To edit an item’s name, double-click it within the item list view (unlock as necessary). Items can be locked and unlocked from within the list view (provided they are within an editable library).

Editing within the Icon View
Double-clicking a symbol within the icon view opens the symbol editor dialog to edit the symbol’s name, description, and properties. Double-clicking a style within the icon view opens the Style Inspector to edit a style’s name, description, and properties.

The “Get Info” drawer slides out and displays information about the selected style or symbol. This information includes the name and description, as well as other item metadata.

The creation of symbols is fully integrated into the Library Manager.

Choose Edit > New Symbol… from the Ortelius main menu. The new symbol is automatically be added to a collection in My Library. If there is no collection available in My Library to contain new styles and symbols, a default collection called “My Symbols” is automatically created. The symbol editor dialog is opened to edit the symbol’s name, description, and properties. When creating more than one symbol in a batch, use the lower left arrows to scroll through and edit properties for each symbol, then click “Done.”

Related topic: Creating New Symbols

You can directly drag-and-drop a style or symbol from the Library Manager (as well as the Symbols Palette) onto an object in the drawing to apply that style or symbol to the target object. For symbols, this means that the target object must be a symbol, and it will adopt the dragged symbol as its master.

Print the selected collection, category, or subcategory by choosing Print from the Library Manager – Action Menu. As needed, use Page Setup to adjust your page settings, such as paper size and orientation. The Library Manager supports printing previews (or create a PDF) with the icon view of collections or categories.

Export collections from My Library and Open Documents Library to create a zip file on disk of the entire collection, allowing you to backup and share it with other users. Select the desired collection to export, then choose “Export Collection…” from the Library Manager – Action Menu.

If you receive a collection from another user (or from Mapdiva), you can import it by first unzipping it as necessary, then choosing “Import Collection…” from the Action Menu. The collection will be imported into My Library and displayed. You can also import a collection by double-clicking the collection file in Finder. Ortelius will launch as ask if you want to install the collection, if you click ‘Install’ it is imported and displayed. Note that import doesn’t unzip a zipped file (a zip file could contain anything), so you need to unzip the file first.

Most users can create the maps they want using the Ortelius-provided styles and symbols, without ever needing to edit or create new styles.

But for those who want to dig deeper, you won’t be disappointed. Styles are applied to linear and area features, and are used when drawing objects and new symbols. From the Style Inspector, you can add a wide variety of treatments to your current and new styles. These include different stroke types, a variety of fills, text adornments, and various effects to your fills and strokes. The Style Inspector invites you to be creative. Saved library styles are “master styles” and will be displayed as “locked” to prevent unintended changes.

To open the Style Inspector:
Click the Styles icon in the toolbar, or choose Window > Style Inspector from the main menu.

By default, the Style Inspector window resizes based on the content of the view. This setting is available from the Style Inspector Action Menu.