Pixel editor

Functionality

The pixel editor is used to edit class names, IDs or values of pixels in a raster map. The pixel editor has one mode, Normal/Select mode, to select pixels of which you wish to change the class name, ID or value. The pixel editor has a menu bar, a context-sensitive menu, and a toolbar.

You can edit a raster map by using the mouse or by using the keyboard.

To start the pixel editor:

To edit an existing raster map, display a raster map in a map window, open the Edit menu in the map window, choose Edit Layer, and select the raster map layer you wish to edit. You can also click a raster map with the right mouse button in a Catalog and choose Edit from the context-sensitive menu. For other methods, see How to edit point, segment, polygon, and raster maps.

Dependent raster maps cannot be edited: first break the dependency links in the Raster Map's Properties sheet.

When the pixel editor is opened, it starts in Normal/Select mode; the mouse pointer appears as a hand.

Working with the keyboard

To zoom in on the map:

Zoom in on the raster map for instance by clicking the Zoom In button on the toolbar. When you zoomed in deeply, the pixel values, class names or IDs of the pixels are displayed. For more information, see Map window : Zoom in.

Normal/Select mode to select pixels:

The pixel editor has one mode, Normal/Select mode, to select pixels of which you wish to change the class name, ID or value. In Normal/Select mode, the mouse pointer appears as a hand.

Selecting pixels using the keyboard:

Use the arrow keys to move the selection cursor;

Press the Shift key and move the selection cursor, to change the status of pixels;

pixels that were not yet selected will added to the selection,
pixels that were already selected will be removed from the selection.

Press the Ctrl key and move the selection cursor, to add pixels to the selection;
Press the Shift+Ctrl keys and move the selection cursor, to remove pixels from the selection;

Press the Spacebar to select or deselect a single pixel;
Press Esc to clear the entire selection.

Editing pixels using the keyboard:

Select the pixels you wish to edit, then press the Enter key to edit the selection:

when you selected a single pixel, you can immediately select a class name, type an identifier, or type a value;
when you selected multiple pixels, you can select a class name, type an identifier or type a value for the selection in the appearing Edit dialog box. For more information, see Pixel editor : Edit.

Working with the mouse

To zoom in on the map:

Normal/Select mode to select pixels:

The pixel editor has one mode, Normal/Select mode, to select pixels of which you wish to change the class name, ID or value. In Normal/Select mode, the mouse pointer appears as a hand. You can select one or more pixels by clicking them or dragging a box around them, in order to change their class name, ID, or value.

To select a single pixel:

click a pixel, or,

move the pixel selection cursor with the arrow keys on the keyboard and press the space bar.

To select all pixels within a selected area:

drag a box with the left mouse button and all pixels in the box are selected.

To add pixels to a selection:

press and hold down the Ctrl key and click the other pixels you wish to select. When finished, release the Ctrl key.

To clear a part of a selection:

press and hold down the Ctrl+Shift keys, then click previously selected pixels or drag a box around pixels: these pixels are deselected. When finished, release the Ctrl+Shift keys.

To toggle between select and deselect:

press and hold down the Shift key, then click pixels or drag a box around pixels: selected pixels are deselected, and non-selected pixels are selected. When finished, release the Shift key.

For more information, see Pixel editor : Normal/Select mode.

Editing the value of selected pixels:

Depending on the domain of the raster map that you are editing, you can change the class name, identifier or value of selected pixels.

To edit the class name, ID or value etc. of one or more pixels:

double-click a pixel, or;
select one or more pixels, then choose Edit from the Edit menu or from the context-sensitive menu;
select one or more pixels, and press the Enter key on the keyboard.

When you double-click a pixel, you can immediately select a class name, type an identifier, or type a value.

When you selected multiple pixels, you can select a class name, type an identifier or type a value for the selection in the appearing Edit dialog box. For more information, see Pixel editor : Edit.

All changes that you make are immediately stored in the raster map.

Other functionality

To copy pixels into the clipboard:

You can copy selected pixels with their coordinates and class names, IDs, or values to the clipboard. Select the pixels you wish to copy and choose Copy from the Edit menu.

For more information, see Pixel editor : Copy.

To paste pixels from the clipboard:

You can paste pixels, points, and/or nodes and intermediate point of segments and polygon boundaries from the clipboard into the pixel editor.

For more information, see Pixel editor : Paste.

Clearing the value of selected pixels:

To clear the class name, IDs or values of pixels, first make a selection, and then press the Del key on the keyboard, or choose Delete from the Edit menu or from the context-sensitive menu.

For more information, see Pixel editor : Delete.

To exit the pixel editor:

To exit the pixel editor, choose the Exit Editor command on the File menu or from the context-sensitive menu. You can also click the Exit editor button in the toolbar. In these cases, the editor is closed but the map(s) remain displayed in a map window.

When you double-click the Close button or the Control-menu box, the map and the editor are closed.

All changes that you make in the raster map are continuously stored.

For more information, see also Appendices : Keyboard shortcuts and Appendices : Mouse functions.