Identify objects ...

One of the interactive abilities given to users by this new java application is the ability to click on a feature on the map, such as an earthquake location, a volcano, or a fault, and receive the attribute information related to that feature. Here is how you do this: once you make a map, you can click on the "Tools/Utilities ..." button and then press the "Identify ..." button. This will display a new menu with two lists. The first one lists data sets that are identifiable in your map. The second list is where the information will be displayed. For example, if you've made a map of volcanoes in California and would like to know more about a specific volcano, you would first go to the first list and highlight the volcanoes from it. Once you do this, you can go to the map and click on a volcano for which you would like to obtain the attribute information. After a while the information will be displayed in the second list. (Please note that not all data sets will display attribute information). If you need to know about the attributes and what they stand for you can go to the metadata section. Sometimes, attribute names are abbreviated, and their meaning may not be clear. The metadata is the best way to learn more about them. There you find the data set that you are displaying and read all about the attributes and what they mean.

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