Iowa DNR Interactive Mapping, Help Files

Select Features on Map by Line or Polygon:

1. Make a layer active.
   
   
2. In the Toolbar place your mouse over the select line/polygon icon and a small pop-up message will tell you the function of the tool.
   
   
3. Click the icon. A thin red line will appear around the icon

   Step-by-step instructions will appear in the Information Bar.
   
   

4. Move your mouse cursor to the Interactive Map. The cursor will change from a white pointer arrow to a thin black cross.
   
   
5. Click your left mouse button to create the first point of your line or polygon.
   
   
   
   
6. Move your cursor on the Interactive Map to another location and click to create your second point.
   
   
   
   
7. Keep clicking to create points that will make up your line or polygon.
   
   
   
   
8. Go back to your Select Line/Polygon instructions in the Information Bar.
   
   
9. Click the Complete Polygon & Select button.

   Notice that the polygon that you create on the Interactive Map closes shut. Also notice that all features of the active layer that exist within the new polygon will be selected; i.e. the features turn a bright yellow color.
   
   

   

   Also after clicking the Complete Polygon & Select button, a table will appear in the Information Bar that lists the attributes of those features that are selected.

   In the attribute table, you can zoom to individual features or all features.

   To zoom to individual features on the Interactive Map, click the hyperlinked numbers under the "Zoom To" column.

   To zoom to all of the selected features, click the "Zoom to these records" hyperlink below the attribute table.

   In the above examples, a polygon was created around certain features of the active layer, DNR Lands. The goal is to select those DNR Land features that exist within the polygon that is being created. Just as easily, a line could have been created that runs through the desired DNR Land features. Look below to see the equivalent of the above examples, except a line is used instead of a polygon:
   
   

   

   In the example above (using a line instead of a polygon) you need to click the Complete Line & Select button, instead of clicking the Complete Polygon & Select button.
   
   

10. When you want to start over selecting features, click the Restart button in the instructions in the Information Bar.
    
    
11. When you are finished using the tool, click the Clear Selection button and close the Select Line/Polygon window.