I-X Map Tool - Addon Help   Based on I-X Technology
AIAI, University of Edinburgh
I-X Map Tool

The I-X Map Tool is based on the Open Source BBN OpenMap system.

The I-X Map Tool is an optional State Viewer and can be installed via two options. First, setting the parameter -state-viewer-class=StateViewMap (rather than the default StateViewTable class). This option is still being supported by the tool to keep it compatible with previous applications. Second, using the map-viewing whiteboards, which extends the object-viewing whiteboards approach. The configuration of both options are discussed in the final of this document

An object is displayed on the map if it has both of the following world state (effect) constraints:

In addition, optionally, the following map view related world state (effect) constraints can be given:

How Icons are Selected

Icons can be represented by gif, png or jpg images. According to the paths showed above, the relation object/icon follows the algorithm below:

IF there is an icon in the directory specified in map-object-icons parameter with the same name of the object (without the extension), this icon will be used.

ELSE IF the object has a "type" world state (effect) constraint for the object (e.g. type Buckingham=palace) AND there is an icon in the directory specified in map-object-icons parameter with the same name of the type value (in the example, palace), this icon will be used.

ELSE IF the map-default-icon parameter was specified, the related icon will be used.

ELSE the system will use its default icon.

<props-file> Composition

This file is used to configure the map tool and its layers. The parameters that can be used to configure the map are:

Each kind of layer has a particular set of parameter/value in the format <layer prefix>.<parameter>=<value>. The default map property file of the map tool shows a example of layer configuration.
map.layers=world
map.Latitude=0.0
map.Longitude=0.0
map.Scale=165000000.0
map.Width=800
map.Height=600

world.class=com.bbn.openmap.layer.shape.ShapeLayer
world.prettyName=World Map
world.shapeFile=resources/map-default/map.shp
world.spatialIndex=resources/map-default/map.ssx
world.lineColor=ff000000
world.fillColor=ff009900

The plug-in ix.ip2.map.JpgMapLayer can be used if the application needs to use a jpg figure as a map. In this case the map property file can be configured as the example below:  

map.layers=jpgmaplayer
map.Latitude=17.0f                            # centre map latitude
map.Longitude=39.0f                           # centre map longitude
map.Scale=8000000.0f

jpgmaplayer.class=com.bbn.openmap.plugin.PlugInLayer
jpgmaplayer.prettyName=Binni Boundaries       # name to represent
the layer
jpgmaplayer.plugin=ix.ip2.map.JpgMapLayer jpgmaplayer.jpgPath=resources/map/binni.jpg # path to the jpg file jpgmaplayer.selfSetting=true # if true, you do not need to # set the parameters below jpgmaplayer.latLeftSuperior=25.0f # top-left latitude jpgmaplayer.lonLeftSuperior=28.0f # top-left longitude jpgmaplayer.latRightInferior=10.0f # bottom-right latitude jpgmaplayer.lonRightInferior=48.0f # bottom-right longitude

Details about configuration of others kinds of layers can be found in the OpenMap API in BBN OpenMap.

Principal Functions

Map Tool Configuration

There are two ways to use the map tool. The first one is via the old map tool version, which can be initialised via the option "Map Tool", Tool Menu in the I-P2 Tools menu (Map Tool and Map Views). For this option we have the following parameters to be configured in the config file of each agent: The second option to use the map tool (new version) has the following parameters: An important detail is that each view can be associated with a specific layer property file. For example, the first line of a view file could be defined as: <object-view name="City-level">, where "City-level" is the name of the view. So the tool will look for a file (inside the directory specified in map-view-directory called "City-level.props". If this file does not exist, a default property file (specified via the parameter map-view-default-properties) is used.

The principal advantage of this new version is that several windows can be open via the "File->New View Windows" and each of these windows can have a different initial state in terms of latitude/longitude or scale for example.

How Views are Selected

Views are selected as detailed in follow:

IF there is a correspondent view property file in the directory specified in map-view-directory, such file will be used;

ELSE IF there is a default file specified in map-view-default-properties, such file will be used;

ELSE a default inbuilt property file, representing a world map, is used.



AIAI Clauirton Siebra, CISA/AIAI, University of Edinburgh
Updated: Mon Jun 26 17:05:25 2006