1. Browser choice
- The site has been developed to work with Firefox v1.5 and Internet Explorer v6 and v7 beta.
- It is highly recommended to use Firefox when browsing the site on a PC. Firefox is a faster, smoother, all round better browser than either v6 or v7 or Internet Explorer.
- Any information from users on how the site works with other browsers (eg. Safari, Opera) would be appreciated.
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2. Site navigation
The main pages of the site are listed below. Nearly all pages contain the standard site menu containing links to the main pages.
- Home - the default page where you first visit the site.
A small map is included on this page, click on a location to view that location on the full map. The list of place categories is shown on the left hand side.
Click on a category name to view places in that category on the main map.
- Map - the main content of the website is the map. The map can be panned and zoomed and viewed in a number of modes : Browse, Search and Routes (click for a description of each mode).
- Add Place - Once you have logged in you can add a place to the map. You should preferably have the postcode and telephone number of the place being added to the map.
- Contact - use the contact form to send a message to the site Administrator.
- Affiliates - view a list of site affiliates and useful links here.
Also listed are details of how you can include a SeeBournemouth.Net map on your website for your visitors to use.
- My Places - any places that you have added to the map are listed in this page. You can edit details or add new images, links or events to the place profile.
- Account - to use some site features requires a user account. Select account from the menu to create an account or to log into an existing account.
- Help page - you are here !
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3. Map basics
The Map has many navigation features in common with other Google maps. These common features are:
- The Main Navigation Control - In the top left of the map. Click on one of the top arrows to pan in that direction.
Use the slider to change the zoom levels.
- The Map View Controls - choose whether to view the map in standard map view, satellite view or hybrid view. Standard view is quickest.
Note that for some areas there is a limit to the amount of detail visible in satellite view.
- The Map Cursor - the map cursor by default is a crosshair. You can perform the following cursor operations
- Double click - re-centre the map on the cursor position.
- Drag and drop - hold the left mouse button down on the map (the map itself not a marker) and move the cursor to a map location, then release the mouse button. When dragging, the map will pan by the same amount as the cursor.
- Mouse wheel zoom - if your mouse has a scroll wheel, move the wheel back to zoom out and forwards to zoom in.
- Site Menu Panel - this is not a standard google feature. The panel is located in the top left corner of the map and contains some controls and indicators
- Home - returns to the site home page.
- Add - add a new place to the map (you must be logged in to add a place).
- Link - right click on this item and select 'Bookmark this link' or 'copy link location' to bookmark or copy a web link to the current map view.
- Nav - hides or shows the navigation panel on the right hand side of the screen. This feature gives you a full size map.
Tip - click F11 select full screen browser view and maximize the map size.
- Zoom - appears in browse mode when there are too many place markers to display on the map. Click on zoom (or use the scroll wheel) to see the places that cannot be displayed.
- Status - Shows an hour glass symbol while map data is loading and 'OK' when loading is complete.
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4. Browse mode
Browse mode displays all markers (or as many as possible) on the map view that match the filter settings on the right hand side of the page.
There is a limit to the number of markers that can be displayed on the map at any one time. When all markers cannot be displayed on the map, the 'Zoom' icon
is displayed in the menu panel.
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5. Search mode
Search mode lets you search for places that match specified parameters
All parameters are optional:
- Postcode - enter the postcode of the search centre (usually where you are).
- Distance - enter the minimum and/or maximum range for searching.
- Name - a complete or partial place name.
- Category Filters - select one or more categories or select 'Any'.
Click on the Search Link to start the search. The results may take a few seconds to load.
To make an additional search, click on the Another Search link.
Click on the Locate Postcode link to locate the postcode on the map before the search.
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6. Routes mode
The routes mode displays transportation and other routes on the map. Select the routes you
wish to view. Selected routes can be made visible in both Browse and Search modes. Additional options let you
select whether to show the route path, the route markers and/or animated vehicles that traverse the route.
Click on route markers for further information about the route, including timetables where available.
The route editor mode allows you to plot a route on the map and to measure the distance of each leg of the route plus the total route distance.
Routes can be adjusted by dragging and dropping waypoints. Waypoint properties can be adjusted by selecting options in the info window.
Full instructions for the editor mode can be viewed in the side panel.
Logged in users can save routes for later editing.
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7. Contribute to the site
SeeBournemouth.Net is set up so anyone can contribute to the site, all you have to do is
to create a free user account. Then you can contribute in a number of ways :
- Add a new place - if a place you know of is not already marked on the map, and the place fits into an available category,
then click Add Place on the menu. Enter the required details and as much optional information as you can.
- Add a photograph or scanned image - select the place profile and click Add Photo or Add Scanto upload scan menus or brochures for the place.
- Add a website link or event - select the place profile and click Add Link or Add Event then fill in the required fields for the URL, title, description and date(s)
- Send in photos - if you have a good collection of place photos please Contact the site admin. Your copyright or a credit can be displayed with the photos if you wish.
- Donate - if you find the site useful you can support the site with a Donation. All contributions are gratefully received.
- Become an Editor - editors can edit place profiles and generally help build up the range of places and information stored on the map.
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8. List your business on the site
If you are a trader, free profiles are available and enhanced profiles will soon be available.
Go to the Trader Page for more information.
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9. Credits and acknowledgments
See Bournemouth is a development of Mashed World, a software development team based in Bournemouth, Dorset, UK. Several other people also helped by contributing code, ideas and information.
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Mike Williams who runs an excellent Map Tutorial Site which was invaluable in getting the earlier code started and on several occasions afterwards.
As well as Google Maps his site also has features about POV-Ray, Photoshop, plus galleries of computer generated artwork and factals.
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Peter Jones from Pixel Development for the PdMarker javascript code which assisted development a lot.
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Andrew Urquhart for a useful bit of javascript code.
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Kitchenham Photography Ltd for a selection of Aerial Photos used on the site.
View their profile on the map or on their own site
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Andrew Rowbottom for alot of help with scans and code for the old maps included
on the site. Andrew runs his own site, Old Ordnance Survey Maps which has an
extensive collection of old maps from around the UK and an impressive dual map display - Well worth a visit.
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