Measuring and setting distances

The measuring tool allows you to check or measure a distance on the map, with the results being displayed according to the geographical units chosen for the map. It also shows the bearing or angle of the measured line with respect to the map's north.

It can be used simply to measure, or it can be used to set the scale for the map by specifying how far the measured distance should be.

Measuring distances and bearing

You can choose the measuring tool in one of two ways. You can either choose 'Tools', then 'Measure a distance...' from the menu, or you can click the measurement tool on the toolbar (see below).


Measurement using the menu	Measurement toolbar button

Now, you can move the mouse pointer to the point from which you want to measure and click the mouse button once.

Next, as you move the mouse pointer you will see that a measurement line is drawn from the point chosen above to the current mouse pointer like that below:

As you move the pointer, a box it displayed showing the current distance and bearing in the direction of the centre arrow. When you click the mouse button a second time, the final distance and bearing between the two points is measured and the result shown in a pop-up window like that below :

Note that the bearing is shown in both degrees and in descriptive cardinal points.

Clicking 'OK' returns you to the main screen.

Setting the scale

A similar process can be used to actually change the scale of the map by measuring a distance on the map, having already specified how far it should be.

Start by choosing 'Tools', then 'Set the map scale...' as below.

You will then be presented with a window where you can choose what you would like to set:

Firstly, choose a distance that you will be measuring in the top field, then choose how you would like the map to react to the new scale. What these options mean is explained below.

When you chose the background details for the map (see 'Setting the background') you will have specified a size for the map in geographical units, for example 10 miles wide by 8 miles high. If, when using the 'scale setting' tool you choose the bottom option - 'keep the same scale width and height...', after setting the scale the map will still be the same geographical size (using the same example, 10 miles by 8 miles) but the map size on screen will change to match the new scale.

If however you choose to 'remain the same physical size, adjusting the scale...' selecting the upper option, the map size on screen will not change but the background, geographical size will change according to the new scale.

When you click 'OK' you will be able to measure a distance as above (see 'measuring distances'). This time, though, when you click the mouse button a second time, the scale of the map is changed to make the distance measured match that you specified in the previous window.

Clicking cancel simply returns you to the main screen.

Why would I use this?

If you have scanned a hand-drawn map, or perhaps an antique or pre-prepared terrain map (please make sure you have permission from a copyright point of view) for the background, it will have a scale already chosen. Using the 'scale setting tool' you can make the BattleMap scale match that of the scanned map. For an example of doing this, see below:

First scan the map to a 'jpg' file (see you scanner's instructions on how to do this.)
Set the scan as the map background (see 'Setting the background...')
Locate a scanned map scale (e.g. like that below)
Choose the 'Set the map scale...' tool as described above, to display the settings window, then choose the distance to measure (in this case, for example, 30 miles) and leave the 'remain the same physical size' chosen as in this case we want the map to stay the same size as the scanned image. We just want the scale to change. Then click 'OK'.
Now use the tool to measure the same distance as that shown on the scanned map.
After the second mouse click, the scale will be adjusted to match that specified.