Map window

Overview window

The overview window shows the entire area of the maps that were added to the map window; it allows you to quickly zoom in on a certain area, and it helps to orient yourself on the position of the area that is currently displayed in the map window.

The overview window shows the position of the area on which you zoomed in (and that is currently displayed by the map window), either by a rectangle or by a cross:

The map window will only display the part of the maps that is within the rectangle or that is around the cross in the overview window.

You can move the overview window and dock it along an edge of a map window; you can also make the overview window floating. The overview window can be hidden or shown with the Overview Window command on the Options menu.

To zoom in on a new area:

Drag a rectangle with the left mouse button in the overview window;
the mouse pointer will temporarily change to a magnifying glass with a plus sign inside.

The map window will directly scroll to and display the selected part of the map(s).

To move the area on which you zoomed in:

Click the existing rectangle in the overview window, and hold the left mouse button down;
move the mouse pointer to another position in the overview window, then release the left mouse button.

The map window will directly scroll to and display the newly selected part of the map(s).

The behavior is similar to using Pan in a map window.

To select another area when you zoomed in deeply:

When you zoomed in deeply on a part of the map window, the area that is displayed in the map window may be too small to be shown as a rectangle in the overview window. Then, the overview window indicates the approximate position of the displayed part in the entire area as a large cross.

To change the area displayed by the map window:

Position the mouse pointer at the center of the cross in the overview window, and hold the left mouse button down;
move the mouse pointer to another position in the overview window, then release the left mouse button.

The map window will directly scroll to and display the map(s) around the new position.

Other functionality:

When you use the scroll bars in the map window, or when you use Pan in the map window, the overview window will always show you where are.
When you click the right mouse button in the overview window, a context-sensitive menu will appear containing the Select Area command.

Tip:

To avoid the appearance of a point, segment, or polygon map in the overview window, select the Scale Limits check box in the map's Display Options dialog box, and reduce the number for the upper scale limit.