how to use roam v2

Digimap Roam

This help page explains how to use Digimap Roam to view, annotate and print maps of Ordnance Survey data.

Start Roam
Overview
Navigating in Roam
Searching for a location
Map views
Basemaps
Map Content
Drawing Tools
Overlays
Add a Web Map Service
Printing
Map Information
My Maps
Measurement Tools
2up tool

Start Roam

From the Digimap home page, select Ordnance Survey then Roam:

image of Digimap home page

Overview

Digimap Roam enables you to view and print maps using Ordnance Survey data at one of 12 pre-defined scales (or map views).

Prints can be created at user defined scales, A4 to A0 size, landscape or portrait orientation and include any drawings you add.

Note: To expand/collapse the left panel click the arrows icon.

image of Roam mapping application

Navigating in Roam

You can navigate in Roam by panning (moving the map in any direction) and by zooming in and out of the map.

To pan you can:

Click and drag the map i.e. click and hold the left mouse button, then drag to move the map.

To zoom in/out of the map, you can:

Double click to zoom in
Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out.
Use the zoom slider bar to zoom in or out:

Click the plus sign to zoom in and click the minus sign to zoom out.
Click and drag the blue marker to zoom in or out.
Or click anywhere on the slider bar to zoom to that scale.

Searching for a location

You can search for a location in Roam using a place name, road names, postcode, grid reference, easting/northing or latitude/longitude.

Place and road names

Click in the search box at the top left of the screen.
Type the place name, road name, partial postcode or full postcode (e.g. London) in the search box, and click the magnifying glass button
Note that results are divided into two lists; Places and Roads.
Click the result you are interested in to view in the map window.

Postcodes

Search with full (e.g. EH9 3EF) or partial (e.g. EH9) UK postcodes.
A map will be generated that centres on your postcode.

Coordinates and Grid References

Type the Grid Reference (e.g. TL4685) in the search box and press return. The map will automatically navigate to that location.
Enter Easting/Northing defined by coordinates on British National Grid e.g. 545030 138305
Enter Latitude/Longitude coordinates to go a specific location defined by geographicals. Formats accepted can be either decimal degrees e.g. 55.123456 -5.123456 or in degrees minutes seconds e.g. 55 07 24.3N, 05 08 04.7W

Map views

Roam has a number of different predefined map scales, called views.
The views consist of different Ordnance Survey map products which are appropriate for each view's scale (e.g. the Detailed view uses OS MasterMap).
Once you have found your location of interest, you can zoom in and out to find the appropriate view for your map.
For more details on what map is on display and its scale, check the Map Information menu.

Basemaps

· You can use the Basemaps button on the map window to change the default Basemap that is being displayed.

· Just select any map to display it in the map window.

· The Basemap button will only be enabled where there are alternative Basemaps available for that zoom level.

Map Content

In several of the map views, you can select the map features you wish to display (e.g. display only A class roads and railways). This is possible because these maps are created from vector data.

Click Map Content in the side panel.
Switch features (or groups of features, e.g. all roads) on/off by checking or unchecking the tick box next to the feature name.
All features can be switched off by unchecking the show/hide all layers tick box. N.B.: Clearing all layers will result in a blank map, so remember to switch at least one layer back on!

Note: Some views cannot be customised because the Ordnance Survey data used in these views are in raster data format, which do not allow selection of features. Therefore, all features in these views are always displayed.

Drawing Tools

The drawing tools in Digimap Roam allow you to draw symbols, lines, polygons and text on your maps. You can add labels to these features and have the ability to select colours and styles for them too.

Detailed help on all the tools and functions available can be found in the How to use the Drawing Tools help page.

Overlays

In several collections, you can add more data to your map with the Overlays menu. Just check the box next to any available layer to display it on your map.

The options available vary by collection, but include:

Hillshading

You can select to add a 3D terrain backdrop to your maps in Roam, to give a clearer idea of the terrain in your area.

Points of Interest

Only found in Ordnance Survey Collection, this allows you to view the locations of over 600 different types of feature. Categories include Accommodation, Commercial Services, Attractions, Sports, Education and more.

Postcodes

Only found in Ordnance Survey Collection, this allows you to view UK postcode boundaries. As you zoom in, more detailed postcodes are displayed.

Contours and Spot Heights
Road/place names
World place names

Add a Web Map Service

This option, available on a tab in the Overlays menu, allows you to add a web map service of map data and view it, overlaid, on your map. In the sample image below, an elevation map of the UK has been added.

Overlays menu, showing a web map service

Add a WMS from Digimap’s list

Select Search WMS Feed.
Check the box next to any WMS to select it.
Select Add Selected Layers to map.
Your WMS should be visible in the WMS tab and your map display changed.

Add a WMS you have sourced

In Roam, select Overlays from the sidebar.
Select the WMS tab.
Select Manually add WMS Feed
Paste your link into the first line of the box, titled ‘3^rd Party WMS URL’.
NOTE: if your URL has HTTP at the beginning, please change this to HTTPS.
Select Get Layers.
Select the eye icon to turn a layer on or off.
Use the arrows to change the order of display of any layer.
Select the pencil icon to edit the name of any layer.
Select Add Layers to Map.
Your WMS should be visible in the WMS tab and your map display changed.

Add WMS feed box.

WMS settings

1. You can switch WMS on or off in the WMS tab. Just select the button next to each WMS on or off.

2. There is an opacity slider under each WMS to let you adjust your map display. Just move it left or right to see more or less of your WMS map data.

Printing

Roam allows you to create printable maps in A4 to A0 size and in portrait or landscape layout in a variety of formats and at user defined scales.

print menu

To create a printable map:

Click the print button on the main menu bar.
Enter a map title.
Enter the Scale that you want to print the map at.
Select the print format.
Select the page size using the drop down menu.
Select orientation (landscape or portrait).
Check the box if you want to Include your name.
Check the box if you want to add National Grid Lines.
Check the box if you want to include any Drawings you have drawn on the map.
Check the box if you want to include Hill Shading.
Check the box if you want to Add Legend. Note the legend will be created as a separate PDF file and placed in a zip file with your map.
Click Generate Print File, this will produce a PDF file which you can save or print.

Use the Content Preview tab to view a small area of the map content that you will get.

Use the Layout Preview tab to show the extents of the area your map will cover based on the paper size and scale of the map. Drag the map in either preview window to change the location of your map.

content and layout tabs

Map Information

The Map Information panel displays spatial reference information about the current map view. The information will update as you pan and zoom the map.

Click Map Information on the left panel to open.
Displays the top right and bottom left coordinates of the current map view.
The scale the current map will be printed at by default (this can be changed in the Print menu).
Hover over any point on the map to view the coordinates.

My Maps

My Maps enables you to open and save maps you have previously saved.

Save a map

1. To save a map and any annotations you have drawn, open My Maps.

2. Select Save map.

3. Give your map a name.

4. Select Save and the map along with any drawings will be saved.

Open a map

To open a saved map select My Maps.

Select any map from the list to view in the map window.
Find a saved map by filtering the list.
Click the rubbish bin icon to remove the map from your saved maps.

If you already have drawings present on your map and you try and open another map with drawings, you will be asked to either replace your existing drawings or to merge them.

Measurement Tools

Roam's Measurement Tools enable you to measure distances and areas on your map.

Select Measurement Tools tab on the left panel.
Choose Distance or Area.

measurement tools menu

Click once on the map to start measuring.
Move the mouse pointer along to the next point. Clicking once on the map will add a point.
Double click to finish measuring. The total distance or area measurement is displayed in the measurement tools panel.
Measurements can be deleted using the Delete measurements button.

2up tool

You can view 2 maps side by side, allowing you to compare different basemaps of the same scale.

Select the 2up button on the top menu bar.
Close the left panel by selecting Collapse Sidebar at the bottom left.
Select an alternate basemap for comparison - example shown in the image below.

image of Roam in 2up view